The true prevalence of anabolic steroid use among children and adolescents is unknown. Estimates are made based on data from confidential surveys of children and teens.
A study published this week in Pediatrics surveyed a large number (over 10,000) of girls and boys aged 12-18 about their use of anabolic steroids and other supplements. The study found that 4.7% of boys and 1.6% of girls used a supplement at least once a week in order to improve appearance or strength. Previous surveys of high school and middle school students estimated that 3% of girls and 5% of boys had used steroids in the past year.
"Anabolic" means "to build". Anabolic steroids are chemical derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroids act on multiple organs and systems of the body. Young people focus on the positive muscle building effects of these drugs, but they do not pay attention to all of the negative side effects and health consequences steroids can have. These include: high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, liver damage and liver cancer, muscle cramps and aching joints, increased risk of ligament injuries and tendon rupture, sever acne, baldness, sleep problems, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. Males may experience breast enlargement, reduced testicular size and sperm count. Girls may experience growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice, reduced breast size, irregular periods, and infertility. Of particular concern are the emotional and psychological side effects of anabolic steroids severe mood swings, "roid rage", anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks depression, and suicide.
According to Dr. Cynthia LaBella, Medical Director for the institute for Sports Medicine at Children's Memorial Hospital, young athletes are vulnerable to false claims advertisers make, and often believe the marketing that tells them steroids will make them a better athlete. She says, while anabolic steroids can increase muscle size and strength, there is no evidence to show that there are any improvements in muscle power, agility, or athletic skills.
Dr. LaBella says parents and coaches are role models for young athletes. She encourages parents to set a good example and talk to our kids about these drugs, clear up the myths, and encourage our young people to play safe and play fair.
There are also concerns about other supplements teenagers are turning to instead of steroids. The most common are Creatine and Protein Powder.
The following information comes from Brian Grasso, a nationally recognized youth conditioning expert. Grasso is the Director of Athlete Development for The Sports Academy Northwest in South Barrington and is the Executive Director for the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Creatine is a nutritional supplement that falls under the broad category of products known as ergogenic aids, substances designed to chemically improve athletic performance. Creatine is the most popular nutritional supplement, with yearly sales over $400 million. In the most recent position statement on creatine use, the American College of Sports Medicine discouraged creatine use in people less than 18 years old because of unknown potential adverse health effects. Creatine is readily available for purchase, both in health food stores and over the Internet. No studies have shown the effectiveness of creatine supplementation in people less than 18 years old.
The number of young people taking Creatine as a supplement varies study to study, but some claims have been made that as many as 40% of high school seniors across the country use this product.
Side effects are difficult to prove or show since neither long-term studies nor studies on adolescents have ever been conducted. Psychological dependency is a major concern and Creatine is typically considered a pre-cursor to steroid use. Anecdotally, Creatine has been implicated in kidney dysfunctions/irregularities and has been implicated as a contributing culprit in the death of a handful of young athletes nationwide.
The other primary concern with Creatine is quality Creatine is not regulated by the FDA and therefore it is impossible to judge the quality of any particular brand.
The use of protein powder is a controversial subject. While not technically classified as an ergogenic aid (because protein is a natural and important dietary nutrient), many young athletes use protein powders as 'magic pills' in the hopes of attaining sporting glory.
Quality control again is a concern due to a lack of FDA regulations. Many studies have shown that excessive protein intake can have dramatic and long-term negatives effects on the kidneys (due to nitrogen production), but other studies report no such findings.
Protein powders are generally considered to be safe and often important for many young athletes. Protein is an important nutrient, especially for young athletes, because of its work in muscle and cell regeneration. Many young athletes lack sufficient dietary intake of protein, which would make supplementation desirable.
The concern again comes in the form of psychological dependency. Young athletes who become very accustom to supplementing with ANYTHING (in this case protein powders) may feel that moving towards Creatine and eventually steroids is a next logical step.
A study published this week in Pediatrics surveyed a large number (over 10,000) of girls and boys aged 12-18 about their use of anabolic steroids and other supplements. The study found that 4.7% of boys and 1.6% of girls used a supplement at least once a week in order to improve appearance or strength. Previous surveys of high school and middle school students estimated that 3% of girls and 5% of boys had used steroids in the past year.
"Anabolic" means "to build". Anabolic steroids are chemical derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroids act on multiple organs and systems of the body. Young people focus on the positive muscle building effects of these drugs, but they do not pay attention to all of the negative side effects and health consequences steroids can have. These include: high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, liver damage and liver cancer, muscle cramps and aching joints, increased risk of ligament injuries and tendon rupture, sever acne, baldness, sleep problems, headaches, vomiting and diarrhea. Males may experience breast enlargement, reduced testicular size and sperm count. Girls may experience growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice, reduced breast size, irregular periods, and infertility. Of particular concern are the emotional and psychological side effects of anabolic steroids severe mood swings, "roid rage", anxiety, paranoia, panic attacks depression, and suicide.
According to Dr. Cynthia LaBella, Medical Director for the institute for Sports Medicine at Children's Memorial Hospital, young athletes are vulnerable to false claims advertisers make, and often believe the marketing that tells them steroids will make them a better athlete. She says, while anabolic steroids can increase muscle size and strength, there is no evidence to show that there are any improvements in muscle power, agility, or athletic skills.
Dr. LaBella says parents and coaches are role models for young athletes. She encourages parents to set a good example and talk to our kids about these drugs, clear up the myths, and encourage our young people to play safe and play fair.
There are also concerns about other supplements teenagers are turning to instead of steroids. The most common are Creatine and Protein Powder.
The following information comes from Brian Grasso, a nationally recognized youth conditioning expert. Grasso is the Director of Athlete Development for The Sports Academy Northwest in South Barrington and is the Executive Director for the International Youth Conditioning Association.
Creatine is a nutritional supplement that falls under the broad category of products known as ergogenic aids, substances designed to chemically improve athletic performance. Creatine is the most popular nutritional supplement, with yearly sales over $400 million. In the most recent position statement on creatine use, the American College of Sports Medicine discouraged creatine use in people less than 18 years old because of unknown potential adverse health effects. Creatine is readily available for purchase, both in health food stores and over the Internet. No studies have shown the effectiveness of creatine supplementation in people less than 18 years old.
The number of young people taking Creatine as a supplement varies study to study, but some claims have been made that as many as 40% of high school seniors across the country use this product.
Side effects are difficult to prove or show since neither long-term studies nor studies on adolescents have ever been conducted. Psychological dependency is a major concern and Creatine is typically considered a pre-cursor to steroid use. Anecdotally, Creatine has been implicated in kidney dysfunctions/irregularities and has been implicated as a contributing culprit in the death of a handful of young athletes nationwide.
The other primary concern with Creatine is quality Creatine is not regulated by the FDA and therefore it is impossible to judge the quality of any particular brand.
The use of protein powder is a controversial subject. While not technically classified as an ergogenic aid (because protein is a natural and important dietary nutrient), many young athletes use protein powders as 'magic pills' in the hopes of attaining sporting glory.
Quality control again is a concern due to a lack of FDA regulations. Many studies have shown that excessive protein intake can have dramatic and long-term negatives effects on the kidneys (due to nitrogen production), but other studies report no such findings.
Protein powders are generally considered to be safe and often important for many young athletes. Protein is an important nutrient, especially for young athletes, because of its work in muscle and cell regeneration. Many young athletes lack sufficient dietary intake of protein, which would make supplementation desirable.
The concern again comes in the form of psychological dependency. Young athletes who become very accustom to supplementing with ANYTHING (in this case protein powders) may feel that moving towards Creatine and eventually steroids is a next logical step.
