Hollywood physique transformations grab headlines, but do steroids fuel them? In a YouTube video from June 24, 2026, celebrity trainer Don Saladino tackled this question and shared the biggest telltale sign of performance-enhancing drug use in the industry.
Saladino built an impressive reputation as a trainer, having guided top-grossing movie stars in the gym. Through the years, he’s helped a handful of A-listers achieve superhero physiques, including Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, and Scarlett Johansson.
It’s a mixed bag in the acting world; some talents admit to using performance-enhancing drugs for movie roles, while some, like Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, vehemently deny it. Saladino was the latest to shed light on the controversy.
Celebrity Trainer Don Saladino’s Red Flag for Steroid Use in Hollywood
In the video, Saladino revealed that the biggest telltale sign of PED use in Hollywood is rapid weight gain while maintaining a lean build.
“First off, that body composition change in a certain period of time. So when you see someone, who like myself, I’ve been walking around between 210-215 pounds for the last 20 years of my life. Now, if I was to show up in six months at 240, as lean, there is something wrong.”
He revealed that some celebrities are pursuing legal routes to buy PEDs instead of going off the black market:
“People are still buying stuff off the black market. You’re starting to see a lot more of these celebrities going to their functional medicine doctors or clinics.”
However, he clapped back at the idea that all of Hollywood is using PEDs.
“I think Frank [Grillo] is in incredible shape; he’s an awesome actor. He’s a lot of fun to watch, but I actually completely disagreed with him when he turned around, and he said everyone in Hollywood is on it,” Saladino explained.
Saladino believes the general public has set a low bar for physiques in Hollywood, and stressed that you don’t need them to become an actor.
“I know there’s a lot of people in Hollywood, and you can see them on the screen. You’re like, I know he or she’s not on anything. You can just tell. I think to generalize and tell the public that assume everyone is on it, that’s part of the problem because then I think everyone is just assuming that to get even on the screen in any shape, you have to be taking something.”
For actors who do take steroids, Saladino has been adamant that they should come clean about their use.
“Fucking own it,” he shared. “First off, have you done everything in your power to do it naturally? The answer is no.”
Overall, Saladino argues that rapid weight gain accompanied by leanness is a steroid giveaway. He stressed that while they are popular in Hollywood, not every actor is taking them to get ready for the big screen.
RELATED: Greg Doucette Talks Steroids in Hollywood and The Rock’s Protocol: ‘He’s On Everything’
