Teens Turn to Dangerous Cow Drugs for Muscle Gains

Young men are increasingly using anabolic steroids like trenbolone, a veterinary drug meant to fatten up cattle, to rapidly build muscle mass.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:45pm

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A minimalist neon outline illustration depicting the internal anatomy of a muscular human torso, with glowing blue and violet lines defining the form against a dark background, conceptually representing the health risks of steroid abuse among young people.The dangerous allure of 'looksmaxxing' drives some teens to abuse powerful drugs meant for fattening livestock.Dallas Today

In the pursuit of the perfect physique, some teenagers are turning to dangerous anabolic steroids like trenbolone, a veterinary drug used to fatten up cattle before slaughter. One 16-year-old in Dallas, Zaid Laila, has openly documented his dramatic muscle gains from using tren on social media, despite the serious health risks like heart attacks and strokes. This alarming trend highlights the growing 'looksmaxxing' subculture among young people driven by social media pressures.

Why it matters

The rise of 'looksmaxxing' culture, where young people obsess over physical optimization, has led some to take extreme measures like abusing powerful anabolic steroids. This poses serious health risks, especially for developing teenagers, and reflects broader societal issues around body image, social media, and the lengths people will go to achieve an idealized physique.

The details

Zaid Laila, a 16-year-old in Dallas, has rapidly built up significant muscle mass and lost fat by using the veterinary steroid trenbolone, or 'tren,' which is typically used to fatten up cattle before slaughter. Laila has openly documented his transformation on social media, showing off syringes of the drug. While the results have been dramatic, tren puts immense strain on the heart and circulatory system, greatly increasing the risks of heart attacks, blood clots, strokes, and arterial damage - risks that Laila says he is willing to take.

  • Laila began using tren about 10 months ago.
  • Laila has documented his transformation extensively on his Instagram page.

The players

Zaid Laila

A 16-year-old Dallas resident who has been openly using the veterinary steroid trenbolone to rapidly build muscle mass, despite the serious health risks.

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What they’re saying

“Why wait 10 years, when I could do it in less than a year.”

— Zaid Laila

“If I have a heart attack at 30, I have a heart attack. I'm still going to do [steroids]. I know what can come with it.”

— Zaid Laila

The takeaway

This case highlights the dangerous lengths some young people will go to in pursuit of an idealized physical appearance, driven by social media pressures and the growing 'looksmaxxing' subculture. It underscores the need for greater education and awareness around the serious health risks of anabolic steroid abuse, especially among vulnerable teenagers.