Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Health - Sport - Sport
Medicine, Therapy, Prevention, Nutrition, ( Atlantic International
University ), language: English, abstract: In any paper revolving around
teenagers and their use of 'mass building' supplements it is important
to note that the use of supplements to build mass and the use of
steroids are not mutually exclusive. Many authors of works on body image
and steroid use believe that they are inextricably linked. It is
debatable as to whether the use of over-the-counter supplements are a
'gateway' to the use of more damaging steroids but the overwhelming
feeling confirms that the risk is increased when teenagers begin to take
supplements. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Youth
Risk Behaviour Surveillance- United States, reports that the percentage
of students using steroids increased to 6,1% by 2002. The common belief
that 'supplements' are not potentially dangerous has resulted in a
limited amount of information about youths (of school-going age) and
their 'supplement use' habits. As such, the preliminary information in
this paper will focus on the prevalence of steroid use among males. The
National Centre for Education Statistics estimated that in 2005, of
"16,5 million some 5,4% of the public and private school children
between" the ages of 14-17 years (660 000 children) had used or were
using steroids. In Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Men, Phillips indicates
that between 6 and "7% of high school boys have used these drugs"
(Phillips: 2001). Adolescent anabolic steroid use is a nationwide
phenomenon with "prevalence rates among high school males [ranging]
from 5-11%", with high school athletes continuing to use these agents to
improve their athletic performance and appearance despite the associated
risks (Proctor: 1998). In addition, it is reported that school children
begin using anabolic steroids before the age of 16 years and up to 86%
of these students have no intention to ceas
