College admissions on the sports quota and body building are driving youngsters to consume dietary supplements and steroids in urban India, with about 78 per cent of the adolescents taking at least one supplement such as pills, energy drinks, steroids and high protein stuff. These supplements, easily available in the market, can be very harmful if taken without expert guidance.
The statistics are shocking as many children are becoming overly involved and obsessed with substances that promise to boost energy, appearance, performance, immunity and overall health even if they shorten their lives.
According to a survey, over 85 per cent of school and college athletes said their coaches and fitness trainers encouraged them to take supplements similar to steroids to perform well. They further said these drugs were easily available easily at any chemist.
Study in major cities
The ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) team conducted the survey on the “Ill-effects of energy drinks and other popular dietary supplements on youngsters” in major States and cities — Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Haryana, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Jaipur and Lucknow — during October 2011-January 2012. The team interacted with around 2,500 adolescents (almost an equal number of male and female) in the age group 14-30.
Interestingly, consumption of dietary supplements is more in vogue in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai followed by Haryana, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad.
The use of steroids increased with age, especially among boys. Almost 45 per cent of 12th grade male students reported steroid use. Some students said they were taking other supplements to boost their game or physical appearance. Forty-seven per cent said they had used protein powders, creatine and amino acids to gain body mass. Around 55 per cent said they had used fat burners, high-energy drinks and caffeine pills in an attempt to lose weight.
The survey showed that the participants were consuming sports drinks (86 per cent), vitamin and mineral tablets (75 per cent), energy drinks (65 per cent), herbal supplements (25 per cent), high protein milk supplements (15 per cent) and steroids (76 per cent). The majority of the participants indicated that their fitness trainers promoted and sold the dietary supplements.
There are a number of side-effects caused by the supplements: abdominal pain, nausea, loose stools, increase in weight due to retention of water, muscle cramps and muscle strains. Reduction in kidney function and enlargement of the heart muscle have been observed in young folks. Females can become masculinised, with excessive hair growth, enlargement of the clitoris and loss of hair (seen in males also).
Around 82 per cent teenagers admitted that fitness trainers and coaches influenced them to use the drugs, referred to as calcium tablet and vitamin supplements, to perform well. More than 75 per cent of the steroid users said they were willing to take extreme risks to reach sports stardom or other athletic goals. Seventy five percent prefer to use a pill or powder, including dietary supplements, even if it is harmful to the extent of shortening life.
The survey disclosed that youngsters often consumed these drinks before workouts to enhance performance. Energy drinks consumed before or during a workout can lead to dehydration, tremors, heat stroke and even heart attack.
“A group of nutritionists said there is a huge demand seeing more and more students asking for supplements that are alternatives to steroids advised [as] builders by their coaches,” points out the survey.
Most popular energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sometimes in combination with other stimulants such as ephedra. It has been shown to increase endurance, improve alertness and concentration, reduce perceived exertion and pain, and enhance performance in some sports. However, at high doses it poses a number of risks, including increased heart rate, changes in heart rhythm, dehydration, sleep problems and addiction, says the survey.
Keywords: dietary supplements, risky obsession
Comments:
Teenagers got an obsessive tendancy to catch up with the peer group.No matter what the harm is.As long as they find some thing attractive and is poseessed by their friends of same age,the craving to adopt the demonstrator is quite irresistable-it is the inherent characteristic of the age.The school /college teachers can play a predominat role in educating the youngsters.A general briefing on the side effect of such energy boosters especially by PT teachers can bring remarkable changes.The same way parents can also keep an eye on the fitness centre going children and warn the impact of such drugs.But in this particular issue teachers could do a better role than parents.
Surely, this is not be too much to ask for the national goal of achieving sustainable economic growth and the aspirations for super-power status! There is a Japanese study (broadcast on NHK) that has found almost a third of the young work force living off fistfuls of pills and occasional 'natural food'. Just food for thought.
There is nothing wrong in taking dietary supplements like protein
powder and vitamin pills. I take them and I need them because I have eat humongous amounts of food to get the same amount that I get from these supplements plus diet. Diet alone will not do, I need supplements too. "Almost 45 per cent of 12th grade male students reported steroid use." Nah, I can not believe it. Did you mean only ATHLETES from 12th standard (in India it is called standard, not grade unlike in USA) or all 12th standard students? I highly doubt it is all 12th standard students.
This sounds like a study being conducted in the US with similar figures and type of supplements being used.