Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Sylvester Stallone Reveals Steroid Use and Risks of Extreme Fitness
Sylvester Stallone said he pushed his body very hard to look like an action hero.
While preparing for Rocky III, he said he developed bulimia and became extremely lean.
He also said he used steroids during that period.
Steroids can make muscles grow, but using them without medical need can harm the heart and other organs.
Being very lean does not always mean being healthy.
Social media can make fast body changes look normal, even when they are not realistic.
Fitness coach Kailash Menon says building a healthy body usually takes years.
A better goal is to become strong, rested and healthy instead of only trying to look muscular.
People who are worried about eating, exercise or body image should seek qualified medical help.
Sylvester Stallone said he developed bulimia while preparing for Rocky III and reported reaching 2.6% body fat.
Stallone acknowledged using steroids and said years of intense training and stunts took a “terrible toll” on his body.
Doctors warned that anabolic-steroid misuse can affect cholesterol, blood pressure, the heart, liver, reproduction and mental health.
Fitness coach Kailash Menon said sustainable physique-building usually requires years, not rapid social-media transformations.
Experts said extreme leanness and muscularity should not take priority over nutrition, recovery, cardiovascular health and psychological wellbeing.
- Who
- Sylvester Stallone, fitness coach Kailash Menon and cardiologist Dr Akhil Kumar Rastogi are central to the report; Imran Khan and Salman Khan are also cited in relation to Bollywood fitness pressures.
- What
- Stallone discussed bulimia, steroid use and the physical costs of pursuing an extreme action-hero physique.
- When
- The disclosure came in a recent interview; the reported extreme physique was developed while preparing for Rocky III.
- Where
- The interview was with The New York Times; the report also discusses fitness culture in India and Bollywood.
- Why
- The account is being used to highlight the health risks of extreme body-image goals, steroid misuse and unrealistic fitness transformations.
Appearance-First Fitness
Health-First Fitness
How far to pursue an action-hero physique
Appearance-First Fitness
Supporters of a highly muscular and extremely lean appearance may view intense training and strict body composition goals as part of preparing for demanding screen roles.
Health-First Fitness
The report argues that appearance should not override health, particularly when extreme leanness, steroid use or disordered eating is involved.
Rapid transformations and social media
Appearance-First Fitness
Dramatic before-and-after images and quick transformation programs present fast physical change as achievable and desirable.
Health-First Fitness
Kailash Menon says fitness is a long-term lifestyle, and viewers should question unusually rapid transformations and claims that a single program works for everyone.
- Reported body fat
- 2.6% while Stallone was preparing for Rocky III
- Eating disorder disclosed
- Stallone said he developed bulimia during that period
- Steroid use
- Stallone acknowledged using steroids while pursuing his physique
- Reported health toll
- He said intense training and stunts eventually took a “terrible toll” and he has undergone multiple surgeries
- Medical risks cited
- Possible cardiovascular, blood-pressure, cholesterol, liver, reproductive and psychological effects
- Fitness timeline
- Kailash Menon said building a decent body can take at least three to five years for many people
- Expert recommendation
- Fitness should prioritize sustainable training, nutrition, sleep, recovery, mobility and psychological wellbeing