You unlock your phone and open Instagram. In less than two minutes, it is very likely to come across a perfect sculpted body. Whether it is the influencer who claims she only “does Pilates and drinks plenty of water” or the bodybuilder who has been preparing for months, saying that the key to achieving a physique like his is “discipline.”
Well, no one questions the value of discipline, much less the importance of drinking water in a person’s life. But that is not what is at stake here. Behind the scenes and the fast cuts of social media, many of these young women suffer from anemia, while others have completely unbalanced hormone levels. In this search for the “ideal body,” more and more people are turning to dangerous shortcuts.
It is no secret that substances used to speed up weight loss, such as Mounjaro and Ozempic, have had their negative impact on the human body underestimated. However, far less attention has been given to steroids and anabolic substances, which have been on the market for a long time and deserve no less concern. In the past, using these substances was considered something to be ashamed of. Today, it is openly displayed on social media and discussed as something “common” and even recommended. In Brazil, anabolic steroid sales increased by 700% over seven years, reaching a record high in 2025.
Gabriel Ganley: Fitness Influencer
Recently, the death of fitness influencer Gabriel Ganley, who suffered sudden death due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a heart disease that is aggravated by anabolic steroid use), attracted significant attention on social media and reignited the debate surrounding these substances. The young man was found dead in his apartment in São Paulo, at the age of only 22 years old.
Ganley frequently shared his intense training routine and strict diet online as part of his preparation for bodybuilding competitions. He had been practicing weight training since the age of 15, and made his debut on stage at 19.
He became one of the most promising names in natural bodybuilding; however, in 2025, he made the decision to transition from a natural athlete to a user of anabolic steroids. Besides this, the influencer was taking medications related to insulin sensitivity and blood sugar regulation.
It had been reported that Gabriel avoided undergoing detailed cardiac examinations out of fear that a doctor might notice some alteration in his heart and recommend that he leave bodybuilding behind. This disease causes the thickening of the heart walls, making it more difficult for blood to be pumped effectively .
According to Agência Brasil, Andrea Fioretti, coordinator of the Exercise Endocrinology Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, highlighted that “when an anabolic steroid is used, it does not only build the muscles of the arms and legs; it also builds the heart muscle”. For this reason, these substances increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and sudden death, even among apparently healthy young people. Therefore, there is no safe dose of these substances for aesthetic purposes.
In an interview with Terra, Rodrigo Mendes, professor at Afya Unigranrio Barra da Tijuca, recalled that “although anabolic steroids have specific and well-established medical indications, their use without a clinical condition that justifies treatment may be associated with potentially serious cardiovascular, hormonal, reproductive, liver, and psychological complications”.
The Repercussions
Many professionals and fitness influencers criticized Ganley and strongly criticize influencers who openly admit to using steroids and anabolic substances because of their proven negative effects on health. Others, however, agree that it is an individual choice and that, for some people, the benefits may outweigh the risks.
Bodybuilder and YouTuber Léo Stronda published a video apologizing for older content that had been interpreted as encouraging steroid use. He stated that he regretted some of the “jokes” he had made about Ganley during livestreams and videos posted online, and began discouraging the use of these substances.
Brazilian businessman, digital influencer, and bodybuilder Renato Cariani also commented on the case after the official forensic report became public. Although he himself uses anabolic steroids to achieve his physique, he does so under medical supervision and undergoes regular examinations. In a video, Cariani stated that Ganley would likely still be alive if he had undergone preventive cardiac screenings.
Meanwhile, physician and influencer Paulo Muzy commented on the case during an appearance on the Monster Cast podcast, criticizing what he sees as public hypocrisy and warning about the growing normalization of dangerous substances, a topic he has addressed for many years.
BODYBUILDING: The Pursuit of Aesthetics Above All Else
Competitive bodybuilding focuses on maximizing hypertrophy and muscle definition through muscle growth and fat loss. Preparation for competitions lasts for months and involves intense training, restrictive diets, and meticulously controlled routines. The sport prioritize appearance and performance rather than the athlete’s long term health.
In addition to strict dietary protocols throughout the different stages of preparation, athletes often use dehydration techniques and fasting. It is also not uncommon for competitors to resort to anabolic steroids (a practice prohibited since 2023 by the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) through Resolution No. 2,333, which bans the prescription of androgenic hormones and anabolic steroids for aesthetic or sports performance purposes) in order to speed up the process.
Physically, this combination of factors involved in contest preparation can harm the body’s functioning in several ways, with severe consequences. Beyond psychological stress and seemingly minor mood-related issues, hormonal changes and deficiencies in the immune system can lead to lifelong health complications. According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, professional bodybuilders have a five-times greater risk of sudden death compared to amateur athletes.
In an interview with Gazeta Digital, sports nutritionist Ana Carolina Gatto stated that what concerns nutrition professionals the most within the fitness industry today is “the indiscriminate and trivialized use of substances that promote rapid results, without proper indication or supervision”. This includes everything from weight-loss medications to injectable supplements. She also mentions the “commodification of health”, in which even some healthcare “professionals” have postponed prioritizing patient protection in pursuit of profit.
Ana Carolina Gatto stated that the balance between performance, aesthetics, and health “begins with understanding that aesthetics cannot come at the expense of health. A good result is not only what appears in the mirror. It is what a person can sustain over time and what improves their quality of life as a whole, without compromising it”.
She also emphasizes that her recommendation is to stop looking for shortcuts and start building a strong foundation. Ideally, this should be done with professional guidance whenever possible in order to ensure both safety and efficiency throughout the process.
The pursuit of rapid results should never come at the cost of one’s own health. Ganley was not an exception, but rather a warning about the risks of misinformation and irresponsibility for athletes and society as a whole.
Performance takes time, and in order to have time, one must first be alive.
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The article above was edited by Mariana De Oliver.
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