Teens embrace muscle-building supplements, survey shows

http://www.boston.com/dailydose/2012/11/19/teens-embrace-muscle-building-supplements-survey-shows-here-advice-for-parents/AAe1myr8y2SiCckK9WA8xO/story.html

Teens embrace muscle-building supplements, survey shows; here’s advice for parents

By Deborah Kotz, Globe Staff

"With all the focus on the childhood obesity epidemic, we’d be foolish to think that teens don’t care about their bodies. They’re just as, or perhaps even more, obsessed these days with looking good -- which means ripped muscles for boys and super-skinny with toned biceps for girls.

....................

Regardless, the researchers wrote, “this finding suggests that, in addition to a ‘thin ideal’ and focus on leanness, muscularity is an important component of body satisfaction for both genders.” That means the pursuit of muscles -- even without the use of dangerous steroids -- could take teens down a dark path of body dissatisfaction, similar to the way some pursue thinness to an extreme.

While parents have been pretty well educated on looking out for personality changes, severe acne, and other signs of hidden steroid use, many may not worry when their teen stops eating all starchy foods or starts pumping iron twice a day to bulk up.

And they may not think twice about their 14-year-old ingesting a protein shake for breakfast."