Weight Gain Powders: The Hidden Steroid Risk in Unlabelled Gainers (Video)

Transcript

Hidden Risks in Gainer Powders

A cousin tried a 'wazan barhane wala' powder and put on ten kilos in six weeks, but his face puffed up and his mood shifted. He never heard of dexamethasone until a doctor mentioned it.

Quick Facts

Real weight gain is about a quarter to half a kilo a week, not five kilos in two weeks. The first step is always a doctor visit to rule out thyroid, diabetes, infections, or mood issues. The biggest risk comes from unlabelled gainers sold online or through local healers, some of which test positive for steroids.

Why 'Just Eat More' Fails

When you can’t put on weight despite eating, or you lose weight without trying, it’s often a sign of something else, not a lack of will. An overactive thyroid burns calories faster than you can replace them. Undiagnosed diabetes spills glucose into urine. Infections and celiac disease quietly steal nutrients, and depression or anxiety can flatten appetite for weeks.

What’s Really Inside

Real whey protein and honest calorie powders are fine. The trouble lies with the informal market, where sachets and bottles come without proper labels, addresses, or batch numbers, promising huge gains. Regulators have pulled many of these after testing revealed spikes of dexamethasone, anabolic steroids, or the appetite-stimulating antihistamine cyproheptadine.

Red Flags of Adulterated Product

If you notice a round, moon-shaped face within weeks, sudden purple stretch marks on the abdomen or thighs, swelling in the ankles or face, mood swings, adult-onset acne, or a rise in blood sugar, stop the product and see a doctor. Bring the packaging if you can.

Honest Calorie Surplus

Gaining weight is simple arithmetic, just slower than many hope. A steady surplus of three to five hundred calories above maintenance each day usually yields a realistic gain of a quarter to half a kilo per week. Most of that is lean tissue, not just water or fat.

Simple Food Additions

Add a dense extra course to your two biggest meals, like two tablespoons of peanut butter on a roti, or a fist-sized portion of ghee mixed into a glass of full-cream milk each day. Toss in two eggs or a small bowl of chicken or paneer for steady protein.

Traditional View

Traditional Unani and Ayurvedic teachings say that thinness that resists ordinary food points to a weak digestive fire. They recommend warm, easily digested foods, modest ghee, and rest, while also checking for any hidden illness. The idea is to support digestion gently, not to force volume.

Build Muscle, Not Just Mass

Extra calories without activity tend to pile on fat around the middle. Simple resistance work three times a week, bodyweight squats, wall push-ups, or water-bottle dumbbells, gives the surplus a useful outlet. Spread protein across three or four meals and aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

When Genetics Isn’t Enough

Family history matters, but if an adult can’t gain weight despite a full diet, it’s worth a proper check-up. A basic panel usually includes thyroid function, fasting blood sugar, and a full blood count, with additional tests if there are night sweats, cough, diarrhea, or low mood.

Special Health Situations

People with diabetes, kidney disease, or heart conditions should not adjust calories or protein on their own; a doctor or dietitian needs to guide them. Teenagers should not be put on a gain diet, growth charts and normal family meals are safer. Older adults who lose appetite need a different approach.

Quote

A powder that promises ten kilos in a month is not feeding you. It is borrowing from your health and calling it a gain.

Bottom Line

Weight gain that lasts is boring by design. Start with a medical check, then add a modest calorie surplus from real food, some strength work, and patience measured in weeks and months. Anything promising fast results from an unlabelled bottle is a risk, not a shortcut.

Stay Informed

For the full story, read the post on thecareonline.com. Remember, this is general guidance, not medical advice.