Fitness influencer and bodybuilder Dr. Mike Israetel recently underwent a full-body MRI scan to investigate what 15 years of PED use has done to his physique. He documented the entire incident in his recent YouTube video. The results revealed an unusual paradox: despite having visible abs and low external body fat, he’s carrying significant visceral fat deep inside his abdomen.
Dr. Israetel, who has been open about his use of roids, growth hormone, insulin, and various other compounds since age 27, decided to get comprehensive imaging at an affiliated diagnostics center. While he regularly monitored his blood work and blood pressure, he acknowledged these tests don’t tell the complete story about internal health.
The scan revealed some striking findings. Dr. Sean O’Mara noted that Israetel had the most far-ending ratio of internal to external fat he had ever observed.
“You are thin on the outside but fat on the inside. I have never seen anybody with as much inversion,” Dr. O’Mara explained during the consultation.
Despite his lean appearance, Israetel’s visceral fat levels matched those of an average 42-year-old American male, a demographic already known for unhealthy fat accumulation. The visceral fat concentrated primarily in his posterior abdominal compartment and lower abdomen.
However, the news wasn’t entirely concerning. His liver fat was very low, he had less pericardial fat around his heart than expected, and surprisingly, none of his organs showed enlargement.
This last finding particularly surprised Israetel, who expected organ growth from years of androgen use. If his organs weren’t enlarged and his visceral fat was only average, what explained his protruding midsection?
The answer appeared to be a very loose abdominal wall, likely genetic, as his parents and siblings share the characteristic.
Beyond the fat analysis, the scan revealed herniated discs throughout his spine and shoulder issues from years of Brazilian jiu-jitsu and powerlifting. On a positive note, no concerning tumors or cancerous growths were detected.
Dr. Israetel attributed much of his visceral fat accumulation to earlier years when he bulked up to 30 percent body fat while PED-free, causing fat cell proliferation that persists today. He plans to address this through continued use of tirzepatide, which preferentially targets visceral fat, along with maintaining his training regimen, nutrition, sleep, and stress management.
The experience reinforced his advocacy for regular health monitoring. He recommends twice-yearly blood work for anyone using PEDs, including comprehensive metabolic panels, cholesterol screening, hormone levels, and diabetes markers.
While full-body MRI scans can provide valuable information, he cautioned they’re risk detection tools rather than definitive diagnostic instruments, requiring professional medical follow-up for any concerning findings.
Ultimately, Israetel emphasized that health comes from daily habits rather than measurement alone: consuming nutritious foods, maintaining activity levels, training consistently, managing stress, and prioritizing sleep, while avoiding excessive use of PEDs.
