More teenage boys are reaching for protein supplements to bulk up and increase muscle mass. But the trend may be risking their health — and even lead to disordered eating.
Nearly half of teen boys have consumed some protein supplement, the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health found, with 56% of boys saying they want to build muscle and 54% saying they want to improve sports performance. (Girls, on the other hand, largely relied on protein supplements as a meal replacement tool — also a worrying trend.)
The protein supplements, Sarah Clark, a research scientist and co-director of the poll, were encouraged by parents, she told NPR.
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Stock image of a teen preparing a protein shake.
“I wonder if, as parents, we are recognizing how much messaging we have taken in about protein being good,” Clark told the outlet. “We have absorbed this messaging: That’s the key to being healthy.”
The problem is that too much protein can, indeed, be a bad thing. “Excessive protein intake can put stress on the liver and kidneys, and it increases the risk for dehydration,” Diana Schnee, a sports nutrition specialist and registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic says.
A high-protein diet can cause kidney stones or put undue stress on the kidneys, leading to dehydration; processing protein can cause high labels of nitrogen in the liver, which makes it harder for it to break down toxins.
There’s also a risk of weight gain, digestive issues — and protein leaving children feeling too full, leading to them not consuming other nutritious foods that their bodies need.
A rough guideline, per Cleveland Clinic, suggests teen boys aged 14 to 18 need about 52 grams of protein a day; for girls in the same age group, it’s 46 grams. But as Abriana Cain, a pediatric dietitian with Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. tells NPR, 1 gram of protein per 1 kilogram (approximately 2.2 lbs.) of weight is a good guideline. As Cain explains: “It might even increase from there, based on their physical activity needs.”
And as Verywell Fit points out, a single scoop of some popular protein powders may contain up to 25 grams of protein — a hefty chunk of the daily recommended allowance before kids have consumed any real food.
Pediatrician and eating disorder expert Dr. Jason Nagata tells NPR that part of the problem is increased pressure to get ripped: “The masculine body ideal has become increasingly large and muscular,” he says. “So more and more boys are trying to become muscular now than they have ever before.”
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Stock image of someone making a protein shake.
He points to an alarming rise in disordered eating among boys. A study from April found that 1 in 5 boys “meet the criteria” for an eating disorder — and its lead author said they “often face unique barriers to seeking help for eating disorders, including feelings of stigma and shame.”
Also concerning is that the supplements, Nagata highlights, are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which could potentially expose consumers to contaminants or chemicals. Heavy metals, like lead and cadmium, were recently found in an alarming number of tested powders.
Plus, Nagata says, “It’s important for teens and parents to know that there isn’t that kind of rigorous quality control, especially when you’re getting mixtures of muscle-building supplements and products … I would just be very cautious.”
“The focus should be more on adequate intake of whole foods,” the Cleveland Clinic’s Schnee says, “as opposed to supplements.”
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