When is comes to losing weight and gaining muscle mass, almost everyone is in favor of short-term results. That is why so many athletes turn to performance-enhancing drugs.

Athletic performance enhancers such as andro and creotine can aid in achieving these results, but at a risk that outweighs the benefits.In the whirlwind of developing a leaner and more defined physique, it is easy to forget about long-term effects that may result from taking athletic supplements.

NCAA rules say that coaches are forbidden from suggesting or even mentioning performance-enhancing drugs to their athletes. However, these supplements are still used by a large percentage of college and professional athletes, many at the risk of winning a championship.Performance-enhancing drugs haven’t been around long enough to do any substantial long-term studies.

Nonetheless, there have been long-term studies done on steroids, the illegal and slightly more powerful version of performance enhancers. Steroids have been shown to cause a change in physical features, such as excess hair and acne, along with chemical changes such as hormonal imbalance and mood change.

Although the use of performance-enhancing drugs may improve your athletic performance, keep in mind that one day your athletic career is going to end, and you will still need your body. Determine how important it is to perform at your peak, and then ponder over the long-term effects you may have to live with for the rest of your life.