Covid's impact on fitness and performance enhancing drug use

The research behind the chapter studied how the Covid-19 pandemic affected people's fitness habits during the first few months of UK lockdowns. Honor looked at four online fitness forums and analysed 115 discussion threads to see how people were adapting. The study found that many people had to adjust their fitness routines or find new ways to exercise at home. Some people also had trouble getting IPEDs (such as anabolic androgenic steroids) because of the pandemic. There was also misinformation going around about these substances and their interactions with the virus.

Honor said:

This chapter is based on research I did as part of my PhD studies, looking at how the pandemic affected people's fitness habits and the use of IPEDs. The study found that, understandably, lockdowns significantly disrupted people's ability to stick to their usual fitness routines, which also affected how they felt about their bodies and their fitness goals. The pandemic also made it harder for some people to get hold of IPEDs, which along with gym closures and shifts in motivation led to changes in use and cycles."

Honor Doro Townshend (BA Hons, MSc, PhD candidate) is a lecturer and researcher in criminology and presenter of true crime media.​ Her recent research projects have looked into substance use, gender identities and crime, the dark Web, and deviant subcultures, but she has a background in the study of all elements of Criminology, from theory to criminal justice. She has multiple papers and book chapters published across a variety of topic areas and has worked as an expert Criminologist for programmes across Channel 4, Vice World News, BBC3, Amazon Prime and more.

For more information on Honor please visit her website.

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