Anavar and Weight Loss

A female patient consulting with her doctor.
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Based on research by the American Medical Association, two thirds of all Americans have either obesity or overweight. This has led many individuals to look into various weight loss agents to aid in their goals. Anavar is a drug that has been shown to increase athletic performance and decrease fat mass, but it should not be used without precaution. Always talk with your physician before using any substance or supplement.

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What Is Anavar?

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Anavar is the trade name for the anabolic steroid oxandrolone. It is a preferred drug of choice for many dieting bodybuilders and athletes looking for increased strength without the excess water gains associated with testosterone use. Anavar is about six times more anabolic than testosterone on a milligram-for-milligram basis. Currently, the FDA does not allow anavar to be prescribed for weight loss purposes.

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Schedule III Substance

All anabolic androgenic steroids in the United States fall into the the category of Schedule III Controlled Substances'. These drugs require a prescription from a physician in order to possess. Schedule III Controlled Substances is a category that has potential for abuse and some risk of dependance. Possession of anavar without a prescription can carry many penalties, including fines and possibly jail time.

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Anavar and Weight Loss

Anavar has been shown severely decreasing thyroid-binding globulin concentrations while increasing thyroxine-binding prealbumin. This means that more of the thyroid hormone T3 is utilized by the cells. T3 is the hormone responsible for metabolism, and increased uptake by cells means that individuals may lose more body fat while using anavar. In a 12-week trial of individuals using 20 mg of anavar per day, participants lost 4 pounds of fat while increasing the muscle mass by 7 pounds.

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Anavar Safety

Anavar does have some safety concerns. Since it is an oral steroid, there is increased risk of liver damage if used in high dosages. It is not as liver toxic as many other oral steroids, however. Anavar also causes large decreases in HDL accompanied with large increases in LDL. This can promote atherosclerosis, which may increase the risk of heart disease. Consider all dangers before determining if you want to use anavar.

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