Doctors will find it hard to recognise patients who are misusing anabolic steroids by appearance alone, if world-first research by Aussie GPs is anything to go by.

Rather than a bulky bodybuilder, the average non-prescribed steroid user has a BMI of just 28 — close to the nation’s average for men — according to a study by Melbourne GP Dr Beng Eu and colleagues.

Their findings from nine GP clinics across Australia show those taking anabolic steroids are more likely to be doing it for self-image enhancement, rather than for competitive bodybuilding.

The study presented at  a conference in early November also confirms such patients are unlikely to self-disclose, and face significant health risks including hypertension, liver abnormalities and polycythaemia.