An American study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that gay and bisexual male teenagers are six times as likely to use steroids than their straight counterparts.

Researchers sought to investigate if sexual minority youth were at increased risk for abusing steroids due to risk factors linked to steroid and substance abuse, such as depression, victimization, suicidal thoughts, and poor body image.  

The researchers used data from the 2005 and 2007 U.S. Youth Risk Behavior Surveys. Of the 17,250 teenage boys (with an average age of 16 years) who were surveyed, 635 respondents identified as gay or bisexual. (Transgender identity was not a part of the study.)

About 21 percent of gay and bisexual boys said they had abused steroids while only 4 percent of heterosexual boys said they had.

The significant disparity was also evident among moderate users (taking pills or injections up to 40 times):  8 percent of gay or bisexual boys compared to 2 percent of straight boys reported the same.

Heavy usage (40 or more times) was more similar between sexual orientations: 4 percent of gay or bisexual teens and 1 percent of straight teens.

The reasons for the difference, which researchers called "dramatic", have yet to be determined. Researchers theorized that gay or bisexual male teenagers may be turn to steroid abuse due in order to deal with being bullied. Sexual minority boys also reported high levels of body dissatisfaction, which were more similar to heterosexual girls than heterosexual boys.

Side effects of steroid misuse include acne, stunted growth in teenagers, accelerated puberty changes, high-blood pressure, aggression, heart and liver problems, testicular atrophy, psychiatric disorders, and more.