The internet has opened up the easiest way of accessing practically any kind of market, and many people – particularly young men – are turning to the internet in search of products they can use to help increase their muscle mass and improve their frame.
But, experts are warning consumers to be careful about products they buy online after studies into bodybuilding products found alarming results about the real ingredients contained within them.
The results of the study have indicated that many online bodybuilding products may be unsafe, or at least mislabelled.
A number of online bodybuilding products were tested, and the results are rather alarming.
- One-in-four products tested contained ingredients not listed on labels, with some including potentially dangerous drugs
- Almost 60% did not contain the actual levels / amounts of ingredients listed on the labelling
- Some ingredients found were deemed as unsafe for use and / or not approved by regulators for consumption
- Some contained unapproved drugs
The products reviewed were marketed as “SARMs” – nonsteroidal selective androgen receptor modulators – which are designed to mimic the effects of testosterone to help build muscle mass. However, only around half of the products tested actually contained SARMs…
A small number of the products tested even contained a breast cancer drug known as Tamoxifen, and some contained hormone drugs.
What this means for consumers
With bodybuilding products potentially containing harmful chemicals or unsafe drugs, consumers are at risk of suffering potentially life-threatening side-effects they may not even be fully aware of.
Consumers may be at risk of things like strokes, heart attacks and liver damage.
Ultimately, if a product is mislabelled or unsafe, it should not be on the market, but the issue is that the internet – as a market – can often be very hard to regulate. Consumers need to be very careful when they are looking to purchase bodybuilding products online, given the risks identified in the study.
Consumers are entitled to make a claim for compensation for unsafe or mislabelled products, but it can be hard to claim against a person or a business in an unregulated industry.
Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/en/bodybuilding-fitness-model-685087/