Looks Can Kill

A Doctor's Journey through Steroids, Addiction and Online Fitness Culture

Author Riam Shammaa and Patricia Pearson

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A leader in sports medicine reveals the prevalence of anabolic steroids and appearance-enhancing drugs for recreational use, and explodes the myths and silence around these dangerous drugs of choice for the Instagram era.

From fitspiration vlogs touting "fit" as the new skinny to magazines imploring men to get "shredded" and "massive" in the gym, fitness stars and elevated body-image standards are driving a burgeoning industry meant, ostensibly, to make us all more healthy. But are those images of rippling abs, bulging shoulders and tiny waists truly inspiring good health? In this book, leading sports doctor (and former champion powerlifter) Riam Shammaa exposes the dirty secret of online fitness culture: rampant steroid and drug use, not only amongst its Instagram stars and…

$32.95

January 14, 2020

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PATRICIA PEARSON is a critically acclaimed journalist and the author of several books of both fiction and nonfiction. Her book about what people experience when they die, Opening Heaven's Door, was a finalist for the BC National Book Award. She has won three National Magazine Awards and the Arthur Ellis Award for best non-fiction crime book. She lives outside Toronto.

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DR. RIAM SHAMMAA is an expert in musculoskeletal medicine, pain medicine and regenerative and translational medicine. Having completed his residency in family medicine at McGill University and a fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Toronto, Dr. Shammaa was appointed lead physician at the 2015 Pan Am Games and has served in a similar role for many other sports organizations. Today, he is the medical director of the Canadian Centres for Regenerative Therapy. A pioneer in stem cell therapy, he conducted the first spinal discs repair using stem cells in Canada and lectures at the University of Toronto on Musculoskeletal diseases.