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Health
Young Indians Use Livestock Growth Drugs for Fast Bodybuilding, Threatening Organs
✍️ Amar Ujala
🗓 07 Sep 2026, 09:26 AM
👁 31
A growing number of Indian youths are turning to animal growth hormones to bulk up quickly, raising concerns about kidney, liver and heart damage.
Health officials have observed an increasing trend among young Indians who consume drugs originally formulated for horses and cattle to accelerate muscle growth. These substances, often marketed as animal growth promoters, are being obtained through informal channels and used without medical supervision.
The appeal lies in the promise of rapid weight gain and a more defined physique, which many youths associate with social acceptance and career opportunities in fitness and modeling. However, the lack of clinical testing for human use means dosage and side‑effects are largely unknown.
Medical experts warn that such unregulated consumption can overload the kidneys, impair liver function and place excessive strain on the cardiovascular system. Reports of elevated liver enzymes, renal failure and cardiac arrhythmias have been linked to these substances in other countries, and Indian health authorities are now monitoring similar cases.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid self‑medication with animal drugs and to seek professional guidance for safe bodybuilding practices. Awareness campaigns are being planned to educate gyms and colleges about the hidden dangers of these illicit performance enhancers.
The appeal lies in the promise of rapid weight gain and a more defined physique, which many youths associate with social acceptance and career opportunities in fitness and modeling. However, the lack of clinical testing for human use means dosage and side‑effects are largely unknown.
Medical experts warn that such unregulated consumption can overload the kidneys, impair liver function and place excessive strain on the cardiovascular system. Reports of elevated liver enzymes, renal failure and cardiac arrhythmias have been linked to these substances in other countries, and Indian health authorities are now monitoring similar cases.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid self‑medication with animal drugs and to seek professional guidance for safe bodybuilding practices. Awareness campaigns are being planned to educate gyms and colleges about the hidden dangers of these illicit performance enhancers.