With an increase in the number of steroid abuse cases and extreme diets, many weight loss methods are now considered unhealthy.

The latest fad, which consists of starving yourself and excessive exercising, also known as crash dieting, is an alarming trend that shows a lack of results and takes a huge toll on one’s health. Many health physicians recognize crash dieting as a dangerous way to lose weight. Not only is crash dieting dangerous, it is also ineffective in weight loss and it can lead to mental health problems, nutrition deficiency and organ damage.

It is common knowledge that energy is derived from sleep, exercise and the consumption of different foods and beverages. Without food and especially with extreme amounts of exercise, the athlete burns too many calories, thus negatively affecting his or her performance drastically.

Diet pills, a fast but dangerous method of dieting, cause painful cramping and can can affect blood pressure and metabolism. Their negative affects on metabolism completely diminish the point of using the pills in the first place.

Another troubling but growing trend is anabolic steroid use. These drugs present a different problem. Many athletes use steroids as a shortcut to gain muscle faster, rather than the “traditional” way by exercising correctly and gradually building muscle. Steroids may make users more buff, but they also give the person physical features of the opposite gender due to increased amounts of testosterone. I don’t know about the other ladies out there, but I think that a beard is certainly not for me. Permanent stretch marks may also appear, and teens’ worst nightmare, acne, will also start developing on the abuser’s skin. Balding and stunted growth will also be added to the user’s list of worries.

Aside from altering one’s physical appearance, abusing these drugs can also lead to liver tumors and heart diseases. Emotional problems may also develop, such as major mood swings. Though some of the side affects of steroids do not appear until years later, when they do start breaking the waves, you will have moments of regret.

Logically speaking, why would you use steroids when you could just build more muscle by exercising correctly? In a way, using steroids is just an excuse for an athlete to cut corners. Besides, the risk of being caught by a coach or the school administrator negates the convenience of using steriods. The punishment for drug usage includes being kicked off of the sports team, guardian notification, counseling and suspension—and a burn on your permanent record.

Having to resort to extreme measures is not necessary to be physically fit. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right kinds of foods and a balanced amount of exercise controls a person’s weight and muscularity with no negative side effects. So the next time you are considering skipping another meal or asking your friends for steroids, opt for some fruits and veggies instead.