Both teen-age boys and girls are highly concerned with the shape of their bodies, and a new study says many are willing to use body-enhancing products to obtain their ideal image. The study in the latest issue of Pediatrics says one out of eight boys and one out of 12 girls admitted to using hormones or supplements in the past year.
The study found that teens who were most concerned with body image were the most likely to try hormones or dietary supplements.
The researchers say the conclusion they draw from their findings is that both boys and girls are heavily influenced by images portrayed in the media. For girls, its a pencil-thin, models physique. For boys, its bulked up and uncharacteristically muscular.
More than 10,000 children, between the ages of 12 and 18, took part in the study. Nearly five percent of the boys and two percent of the girls told researchers they use products ranging from protein powders to steroid injections at least once a week.
The study says protein powders and shakes were the most commonly used products. At the most extreme, products included amino acids, the amino-acid metabolite HMB, the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), growth hormone and anabolic steroids.
The researchers say some products may be relatively safe, but that teens should not be consuming any type of supplement or health product without their parents knowledge and approval.
