Daniel Martin , Rebecca M. Hawkins , Thomas I. Gee , Luke Turnock , Lambros Lazuras
{"title":"Use of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists among exercisers and recreational athletes and associated mental health symptoms","authors":"Daniel Martin , Rebecca M. Hawkins , Thomas I. Gee , Luke Turnock , Lambros Lazuras","doi":"10.1016/j.peh.2025.100353","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The present study assessed the self-reported use of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and associated health risk awareness and mental health symptoms among UK-based exercisers and recreational athletes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Participants (<em>n</em> = 681) completed an online survey which assessed: (1) participation in exercise and sport; (2) past and intended future off-label use of GLP-1 agonists; and (3) awareness of associated health risks, body image disturbances, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Over half of participants (57.9 %, <em>n</em> = 372) were familiar with GLP-1 agonists. Of these, 78.2 %, (<em>n</em> = 291) reported that they were unaware of any associated health risks. A quarter (25.5 %, <em>n</em> = 93) of participants had thought about using GLP-1 agonists off-label for physical appearance purposes, and 2.9 % (<em>n</em> = 11) reported having already used GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 agonists were mainly sourced through online outlets (45.5 %, <em>n</em> = 5) or private sellers (18.2 %, <em>n</em> = 2), and 50.0 % (<em>n</em> = 5) of the users continued taking GLP-1 drugs even after perceiving they experienced adverse symptoms. The majority of users (63.6 %, <em>n</em> = 7) had followed more than one course of GLP-1 agonists, Semaglutide being the most commonly used GLP-1 agonist (54.5 %, <em>n</em> = 6), and 90.9 % (<em>n</em> = 10) of users believed they had bought the genuine product. Compared to non-users, participants who had used or thought about using GLP-1 agonists, reported significantly higher scores in symptoms of anxiety and depression, and in body image disturbances.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>A sizeable proportion of exercisers and recreational athletes contemplated GLP-1 agonist use for body image enhancement purposes, despite being unaware of associated health risks and experiencing elevated mental health symptoms in comparison to non-contemplators.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19886,"journal":{"name":"Performance enhancement and health","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 100353"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Performance enhancement and health","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211266925000362","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives
The present study assessed the self-reported use of Glucagon-like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and associated health risk awareness and mental health symptoms among UK-based exercisers and recreational athletes.
Methods
Participants (n = 681) completed an online survey which assessed: (1) participation in exercise and sport; (2) past and intended future off-label use of GLP-1 agonists; and (3) awareness of associated health risks, body image disturbances, and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Results
Over half of participants (57.9 %, n = 372) were familiar with GLP-1 agonists. Of these, 78.2 %, (n = 291) reported that they were unaware of any associated health risks. A quarter (25.5 %, n = 93) of participants had thought about using GLP-1 agonists off-label for physical appearance purposes, and 2.9 % (n = 11) reported having already used GLP-1 agonists. GLP-1 agonists were mainly sourced through online outlets (45.5 %, n = 5) or private sellers (18.2 %, n = 2), and 50.0 % (n = 5) of the users continued taking GLP-1 drugs even after perceiving they experienced adverse symptoms. The majority of users (63.6 %, n = 7) had followed more than one course of GLP-1 agonists, Semaglutide being the most commonly used GLP-1 agonist (54.5 %, n = 6), and 90.9 % (n = 10) of users believed they had bought the genuine product. Compared to non-users, participants who had used or thought about using GLP-1 agonists, reported significantly higher scores in symptoms of anxiety and depression, and in body image disturbances.
Conclusion
A sizeable proportion of exercisers and recreational athletes contemplated GLP-1 agonist use for body image enhancement purposes, despite being unaware of associated health risks and experiencing elevated mental health symptoms in comparison to non-contemplators.