Social media driving teens toward steroids, extreme body transformations

CBS Mornings How social media is driving teens toward steroids and extreme body transformations .chip { background-image: url('/fly/bundles/cbsnewscore/images/chip-bgd/chip-bgd-cbs-mornings.jpg'); } By Adam Yamaguchi, Adam Yamaguchi Correspondent Adam Yamaguchi is a CBS News correspondent based in Los Angeles. Read Full Bio Adam Yamaguchi, Grace Baek April 6, 2026 / 12:39 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A growing number of teenage boys are chasing dramatic body transformations online — building massive muscles, shedding fat and documenting it all for millions to see. But behind some of the viral physiques lies a troubling trend: the use of a powerful drug never approved for humans.A rapid transformation — and a risky choiceAt 16 years old, Zaid Laila says he didn't want to spend years working out to build a body like those he saw online. "Why wait 10 years … when I could do it in less than a year," he said.The high school student from suburban Dallas began documenting his journey on social media, where his transformation quickly drew attention. His videos show a leaner, more muscular physique — the kind often celebrated across social media platforms.But Laila is open about how he got there: "A lot of steroids and a lot of working out."He told CBS News he's been using anabolic steroids for about 10 months, including trenbolone, a powerful drug developed for livestock and never approved for human use. A drug not meant for peopleTrenbolone, often referred to as "tren," is designed to increase muscle growth in cattle. It is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, making it illegal to possess or distribute without a prescription.Dr. Jason Nagata, a pediatrician specializing in adolescent health at the University of California, San Francisco, says anabolic steroids can damage the heart, liver and kidneys — and trenbolone may be even more dangerous. "Trenbolone, because it's so powerful,...