30th November 2023

Sam is a 28-year-old gay man who is seeing his GP requesting blood tests as he is considering taking anabolic steroids

Sam is a 28-year-old gay man who is seeing his GP requesting blood tests as he is considering taking anabolic steroids. On further questioning, he describes a great deal of anxiety because he feels he is too skinny by ‘gay standards’ and that all his life, his body is not sufficiently muscular enough compared to other men. He is especially preoccupied with his chest, which he thinks is too lean. He is convinced he is hideously ugly and that steroids will fix his appearance. Over the last year, he has tried to have a set minimum of calories a day and eat 4 large meals a day with protein supplements, sometimes to the point of vomiting. His BMI is 20.

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