When most people picture teenagers using PEDs, the image tends to be a young male athlete. But 18-year-old Joy Meek is a case that illustrates the trend reaching well beyond that demographic.
Meek launched her Instagram about 12 months ago and has built a following centered on her physique. What caught observers’ attention was the speed of her transformation.
In under six months, her muscular development reached a level that most gym-goers would consider years in the making. Her transformation was particularly notable because she achieved in less than six months what most regular gym-goers would expect to take years of consistent training to accomplish.
Her early hashtag choices also raised questions. Tagging “Breathe Definity” in posts from the very beginning of her social media career suggested a connection to the performance-enhancement community.
The central discussion point came when Meek was seen taking a green-tinted liquid orally. Initial speculation centered on two possibilities: SARMs, meaning selective androgen receptor modulators, or another orally bioavailable compound. However, the more likely candidate was identified as tadalafil, the active ingredient in a PDE5 inhibitor commercially known as Cialis.
While less commonly associated with bodybuilding than traditional anabolic stuff, tadalafil works by blocking an enzyme that limits blood flow, prolonging vasodilation during exercise, improving oxygen delivery to muscles, and potentially enhancing performance. Research has also explored the d*ug for possible cognitive and mood-related benefits, adding to its appeal among some younger fitness enthusiasts.
Meek also publicly shared lab work showing testosterone values within normal female ranges. However, critics argued that those results alone do not establish whether someone is natural.
A more meaningful assessment, critics argued, would require serial testing over an extended period while tracking multiple hormonal markers.
The concern extends beyond one individual. Similar pressures have been described by other influencers, who reportedly said they felt pushed toward PED use by those around.
For Meek, the question is not where she is now but where the path leads. Starting at 18 with PEDs that may carry relatively lower risks does not necessarily mean it ends there, particularly as social media followings grow and the pressure to maintain an exceptional physique increases.
