SARM Industry Statistics & Usage Trends 2025
From Enhanced Lifters to Curious Beginners — What the Data Really Says
In the last decade, SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) have evolved from obscure research chemicals into one of the most controversial, widely discussed, and aggressively used classes of enhancement compounds in the performance world. By 2025, the SARM market has exploded—not only in underground use but in search traffic, gray-market sales, and even interest from mainstream supplement circles.
This isn’t just a fringe experiment anymore. SARMs are everywhere—from TikTok and Reddit to gyms, MMA camps, and recovery clinics. Let’s dive deep into the numbers, trends, usage patterns, and what you need to know as a lifter navigating this fast-moving space.
🧠 What Are SARMs? (Quick Primer)
SARMs are synthetic compounds designed to selectively bind to androgen receptors in muscle and bone—delivering anabolic benefits without the full-body androgenic impact of traditional steroids. That’s the theory, at least. Compounds like RAD-140, LGD-4033, and MK-677 have become household names among enhanced lifters and even curious gym-goers.
📊 SARM Market Size and Growth (2025 Data)
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Global SARM market value in 2025: $476 million (estimated)
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Projected CAGR (2025–2030): 8.1%
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Online SARM vendor growth: Over 400% increase in new vendor URLs since 2020
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Top markets: United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada
This rapid growth reflects not only rising demand among bodybuilders but also among biohackers, aging men seeking TRT alternatives, and athletes looking to avoid steroid detection windows.
🌍 Who’s Using SARMs? Demographic Breakdown
| Category | % of Users (Est.) |
|---|---|
| Male (18–34) | 61% |
| Male (35–54) | 24% |
| Female (25–44) | 9% |
| Enhanced athletes | 53% |
| Natural lifters/curious | 29% |
| TRT/HRT crossover users | 18% |
Beginners are entering the SARM world earlier than ever—many as a first step before steroids, often with no medical oversight.
💥 Why People Are Using SARMs
Across surveys, forums, and purchasing data, the top motivators are:
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Muscle gain without steroids (most cited reason)
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Fat loss while preserving muscle
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Shorter detection windows vs AAS
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Curiosity/testing the waters before real gear
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Supportive use in PCT or TRT
Some users are blending SARMs into hybrid stacks—combining them with peptides, GH secretagogues, or low-dose test for optimized results.
📈 Most Popular SARMs in 2025 (By User Mentions & Traffic)
| Rank | Compound | Primary Goal | Notable Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RAD-140 | Bulking/Recomp | High anabolic ratio, strength gains, suppression risk |
| 2 | MK-677 | GH/Recovery | Boosts appetite, GH/IGF-1 upregulation |
| 3 | LGD-4033 | Mass building | High water retention, fast size gains |
| 4 | S23 | Cutting/Recomp | Very suppressive, lean hardening |
| 5 | YK-11 | Myostatin Inhibitor | Experimental, dry strength focus |
| 6 | AC-262 | Mild Recomp | Lower suppression, emerging as “beginner SARM” |
| 7 | SR9009 | Fat loss/Endurance | Often stacked with fat burners |
| 8 | RAD-150 | Mass + Recovery | Esterified RAD version with longer half-life |
| 9 | GW-0742 | Endurance/Cutting | Less stimulant crash, cardiac focus |
| 10 | ACP-105 | Lean muscle | Rare, mild, no liver toxicity |
🧪 Comparison Table: SARMs by Effectiveness, Half-Life, Suppression & Rank
| Compound | Primary Use | Half-Life | Strength (1–10) | Suppression | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAD-140 | Bulking | ~20 hrs | 9.5 | High | 1 |
| MK-677 | GH Release | ~24 hrs | 8 | None | 2 |
| LGD-4033 | Bulking/Recomp | ~30 hrs | 9 | Medium-High | 3 |
| S23 | Cutting | ~12 hrs | 8.5 | Very High | 4 |
| YK-11 | Strength/Myostatin | ~6–10 hrs | 7.5 | High | 5 |
| AC-262 | Recomp/Beginner | ~4–6 hrs | 6.5 | Low | 6 |
| SR9009 | Fat loss/Endurance | <4 hrs | 6 | None | 7 |
| RAD-150 | Mass + Retention | ~48 hrs | 8 | High | 8 |
| GW-0742 | Endurance/Cutting | ~6–12 hrs | 7 | None | 9 |
| ACP-105 | Lean muscle | ~4–6 hrs | 6 | Low | 10 |
🚨 Side Effects: What Real Users Report Most Often
| Side Effect | Most Affected Compounds | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Testosterone suppression | RAD-140, S23, LGD | Often requires PCT |
| Mood swings/anxiety | YK-11, S23, SR9009 | CNS interference suspected |
| Acne/oily skin | RAD-140, LGD, RAD-150 | Due to androgenic activation |
| Lethargy | MK-677 | Often from elevated GH levels |
| Insomnia | SR9009, MK-677 | Dose timing crucial |
📉 Where SARMs Are Sourced (2025)
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70%+ from gray market research sites
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20% via private Telegram/Discord groups
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10% from compound pharmacies or international clinics
Some “SARM” products tested in 2024–2025 were found to contain no active ingredients—or worse, anabolic steroids. Reputable sources are rare.
🚫 Doping & Athletic Suspensions
SARMs continue to show up frequently in WADA-flagged drug tests:
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RAD-140 remains the most commonly flagged
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S23 and LGD now showing increased presence in failed Olympic- and NCAA-level tests
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Many supplement companies fined or delisted due to cross-contamination or undeclared SARM inclusion
📉 SARMs vs Steroids: Shift in Usage
SARMs are increasingly seen as:
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A “first step” before steroid use (especially among 18–25 year-olds)
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A bridge compound post-steroid cycle
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A gateway for body recomp without TRT, appealing to anti-aging clinics and biohackers
31% of surveyed users in 2024 said they “started with SARMs and moved on to testosterone or anabolics within 12 months.”
🔮 2025 Outlook: What’s Next?
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Emerging compounds like AC-262 and RAD-150 are becoming go-to options for mild or longer-acting cycles
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Global crackdown efforts by FDA, TGA (Australia), and WADA are increasing
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Some supplement manufacturers are experimenting with “SARM-like” analogs under different names to bypass regulation
💬 Final Takeaways
The SARM landscape in 2025 is a volatile mix of opportunity, danger, and gray-market science. For advanced lifters, they offer a unique tool in the enhancement toolbox. For beginners, they’re often the first chemical leap into something more serious.
But make no mistake: SARMs aren’t “safe steroids” or shortcut supplements. The market is growing fast, but so are the risks, misinformation, and consequences of uninformed use.
If you’re entering this world—or already deep into it—stay educated, blood-test often, and vet your sources like your results depend on it.
Because they do.
📚 References:
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NIH: Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) – Overview of Emerging Use
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WADA Prohibited List 2024–2025
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PubChem Compound Profiles: RAD-140, LGD-4033, MK-677, S23
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Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2023): “SARMs and Hypogonadism in Young Males”
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Reddit SARMs Community Survey 2024 (Self-reported usage trends)
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Muscle & Strength Forums User Poll (2024)
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FDA Warning Letters & Enforcement Reports (2022–2024)
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Google Trends & SEMrush Organic Keyword Traffic (2023–2025)
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Biohacker & TRT Clinic Whitepapers (via AgeRX & RegenHealth Global, 2025)
