It once seemed unlikely that anyone truly believed Brian “Liver King” Johnson achieved his extraordinary physique without the help of performance-enhancing drugs. His body, cartoonishly muscular and veined, looked more like a pumped-up action figure than a product of natural effort. Johnson claimed his transformation was the result of an extreme diet consisting of raw liver, bone marrow, and animal testicles.
This bizarre approach, in fact, was part of his strategy. By attributing his gains to an almost unthinkable diet, Johnson made his appearance seem just plausible enough. For followers unwilling to go that far, he conveniently offered a line of supplements that promised similar benefits in a more palatable form.
However, Johnson’s carefully constructed image began to unravel when leaked emails revealed he was spending over $11,000 a month on anabolic steroids. His use of drugs like testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH) is now a key focus in a new Netflix documentary. His story is one of the most extreme cases in a much broader problem—one that has existed as long as performance enhancers themselves.
In the 1980s, wrestling icon Hulk Hogan promoted health and fitness through prayer and vitamins. Yet in 1994, he admitted in court to using steroids for more than a decade. Today, influencers project an image of health through ice baths and breathing exercises, while quietly injecting substances that vastly enhance muscle growth. These include synthetic steroids, testosterone, and HGH—none of which are disclosed to their audiences.
As a result, a growing number of men and women—especially the young, but also many middle-aged adults—are developing distorted expectations about what can be achieved through natural means like training and diet. The problem may be intensifying rather than improving.
“In the current economic climate, the fitness industry is a very appealing place,” says James Smith, a personal trainer and bestselling author who has openly discussed his own steroid use in his early twenties. Now 35, Smith explains that the industry rewards those with the right mix of genetics, coaching skills, and marketing savvy.
“It starts with a little testosterone to get an edge,” he says. “You get compliments, start lifting heavier, and your social media following grows. Then maybe you add HGH. Suddenly, business is booming.”
The economic incentives and social media rewards can be so strong that more and more fitness influencers are quietly relying on drugs to build both their physiques and their brands. In doing so, they are misleading millions about what’s truly achievable through effort alone—and reshaping the public’s understanding of health and fitness in the process.
Related Topics:
Walk Your Way to Fitness as Diabetes UK Challenge Hits Southampton
Ozempic Tongue Latest Side Effect Of Weight Loss Drug Celebs Reveal Impact
Trump Takes Historic Step to Cut Drug Prices Including Weight Loss Shots
