Anavar is the brand name for oxandrolone, a synthetic oral anabolic-androgenic steroid originally developed in the 1960s. It is primarily used medically to promote weight gain after severe trauma, chronic infections, or surgery, and to treat bone pain associated with osteoporosis. Because it is a derivative of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with relatively low androgenic effects, it is also highly sought after in the fitness community for performance enhancement.