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Using Testosterone To Reduce Abdominal Fat |
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Written by By Dan Gwartney, MD
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Friday, 30 January 2009 |
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Page 2 of 8
It has long been observed that men lose muscle mass and gain fat as they age. The loss of muscle mass has been attributed to the age-related decline in testosterone production called andropause or ADAM (androgen deficiency in the aging male).1 The increase in fat is rarely considered a direct consequence of ADAM, in part because obesity is widespread (no pun intended) and fat gain is multifactorial. Most research in reducing body fat has focused on behavior modification through the use of drugs that decrease appetite, thermogenic drugs that increase calorie burning or drugs that reduce calorie intake by blocking nutrient digestion. With the exception of thermogenic drugs that also have a stimulant effect, athletes and bodybuilders rarely use weight-management drugs. How then do they stay so lean?
The Cornerstone Of Success
Obviously, for all athletes, disciplined diet and regimented exercise are the cornerstones of their body composition success. Among drug-using athletes, there are numerous drugs that promote fat loss, but rarely are anabolic steroids mentioned, as other drugs are more potent in this effect. Rather than focusing on the elite athletes who practice complex polypharmacy (using multiple drugs), consider the example of the recreational athlete or bodybuilder whose use is more consistent with real-world reports. In a recent survey pending publication, researcher Jason Cohen discovered that most recreational anabolic steroid users limit their drug use to a very conservative range of 400mg-600mg testosterone ester equivalent per week for a period (cycle) of eight to 16 weeks.2 This moderate dosage is still sufficient to escalate serum (blood) testosterone concentrations above the peak of normal range, also known as supraphysiologic dosing.
A moderate cycle, combined with the appropriate diet and exercise, allows adult men to achieve enviable physiques, with well-defined muscularity. Most people attribute the improvements in appearance to enhanced muscular development, assuming that total body fat stays essentially the same unless increased cardio or a hypocaloric diet is practiced during the cycle. While results are certainly not uniform among all people, in many cases the user also experiences a minor degree of body fat loss. The pronounced muscle growth, combined with a moderate body fat reduction, can result in an apparent and impressive improvement in body composition. In gyms where moderate anabolic steroid use is prevalent, it is not uncommon to see people, even those over the age of 40, who could easily appear in a fitness magazine.
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Research and Review 
