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The American Psychological Association has identified an emerging eating disorder in men: the excessive consumption of bodybuilding supplements. Supplements such as whey protein, creatine, and L-cartinine are legal and not regulated by the FDA.
[Richard Achiro, PhD] and co-author Peter Theodore, PhD, also at the California School of Professional Psychology [at Alliant International University, Los Angeles], found that more than 40 percent of participants [in a study] indicated that their use of supplements had increased over time and 22 percent indicated that they replaced regular meals with dietary supplements not intended to be meal replacements.... On the more extreme end, 8 percent of participants indicated that their physician had told them to cut back on or stop using supplements due to actual or potential adverse health side effects, and 3 percent had been hospitalized for kidney or liver problems that were related to the use of supplements.
An article from Fox News provides additional insight from Achiro:
"Because we just assume sometimes that's what men do, collectively, it's kind of a normal thing, and in fact they're overusing these supplements in a way that is damaging themselves and the people around them in some cases," he said.
"What are these men compensating for? Feelings of impotence in relationships, work life or both?" Achiro said. "It's an underlying behavior men know is problematic, but are unable to change because so few of us men are open to addressing our emotional worlds and sense of inadequacy."
Healthline also reports the study along with more of Achiro's thoughts on the problems men face due to a change in the "'ideal masculine' physique presented by the media... from hyper-muscularity — such as Arnold Schwarzenneger — to a mesomorphic ideal, which is muscular and lean, highlighting the importance of muscular definition."
I'm reminded of the scene from Fight Club where Tyler is staring at a Calvin Klein-esque ad, and the narrator asks, "Is that what a real man is supposed to look like?"
(Score: 1, Redundant) by jimshatt on Friday August 07 2015, @01:20PM
I'd be more interested to know if the usage of supplements has increased in the population at large.
Anyway, let them work out if they want. Maybe a bit more information about supplement usage, but otherwise they're fine. At least they're not morbidly obese like a huge part of the population (yes, also where you live, not just the US). Not trying to flame or troll here, I just don't see the big problem.
(Score: 1, Redundant) by Illop on Friday August 07 2015, @01:34PM
I as well do not see much of a problem compared to the other McDonalds eating end of the spectrum. The only harm can be using to much whey/egg/milk/soy protein powder without consuming enough water as well, sure fire way to get golf ball sized kidney stones.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 07 2015, @06:34PM
The only harm can be using to much whey/egg/milk/soy protein powder without consuming enough water as well, sure fire way to get golf ball sized kidney stones.
Stones? How about kidney damage? And it has nothing to do with water. Too much protein will kill your kidneys. If you eat more than 1g of protein per pound of weight, you are probably overdoing it.
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/protein-and-kidney-disease [womenshealthmag.com]
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271663.php [medicalnewstoday.com]
Eating meat is not really going to cause problems, but eating supplements will kill your kidneys.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday August 07 2015, @04:14PM
Well, there's an obvious parallel to eating disorders in females, where girls refuse to eat anything so they can be more proud of the way they look. It's still a problem even though it avoids obesity.
(Score: 2) by jimshatt on Saturday August 08 2015, @10:16PM
So yes, there is a problem there, probably. But this study just isn't very useful.