New research findings presented during ENDO 2004, the 86th Annual Meeting of The Endocrine Society, examined how much teenagers are using anabolic steroids and body-shaping drugs.
According to the findings, high school students-both athletes and non-athletes-use anabolic steroids (AS) and body shaping drugs on a regular basis. Male athletes and non-athletes appear to be the most common users of anabolic steroids; while females are more likely to use body-shaping drugs (BSD), such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, pseudoephedrine and diet pills. Additionally, students with a higher grade-point average tend to use less drugs. Compared with non-athletes, student athletes were also less likely to use steroids, alcohol, cocaine, cigarettes, pseudoephedrine and diet pills.
"Our findings indicate an increase in anabolic steroid use among high school non-athletes, which may be one of the reasons for the national increase in steroid use among teens," explained Dr Linn Goldberg of Oregon Health and Sciences University. "Also, while high school females use less alcohol and other drugs, they use more body-shaping and athletic-enhancing drugs than their male counterparts," Dr Goldberg added.
Obese teens taking sibutramine, a diet drug marketed as Meridia in the United States, for six months experienced substantial weight loss without harmful side effects. The new study is one of the first to show the effectiveness of drug therapy on obese adolescents. Dr Amelio Godoy Matos and colleagues in Brazil treated 60 obese boys and girls, 14 to 18 years old with either sibutramine or placebo for six months. Both groups also participated in a controlled diet, moderate exercise and counseling.
After six months, patients taking sibutramine lost an average of 28 lbs while those taking the placebo lost only about 11 lbs. Also, more than six times as many adolescents taking sibutramine reduced their initial body weight by at least 10 per cent, compared with the placebo group. Also, 50 per cent of the sibutramine group reduced their body weight by at least 15 per cent, compared with none in the placebo group.
"Patients in the sibutramine group, not only lost more weight, but they also experienced significant improvements in good cholesterol, HDL, and insulin levels," explained Dr. Godoy Matos. "Based on our findings, sibutramine appears to be a safe and effective treatment for obesity in adolescents. Larger and longer studies are needed to confirm these findings," he added.
A new study could help doctors determine how much exercise obese and non-obese children need to remain healthy and avoid cardiovascular disease. The findings also show that severely obese kids are at risk for developing cardiovascular disease, but the correct amount of regular exercise could improve this condition. Dr. Constanze Steinborn and researchers in Germany used treadmill exercise to measure cardiovascular state and determine the level at which children should perform regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight.
Growth, weight, blood pressure, heart rate and blood were tested in sixteen obese children with an average body mass index (BMI) of more than 26. Dr. Steinhorn and her team used a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) and measured CO2 release to identify the anaerobic threshold, or level of exercise that burns the maximum amount of fat, for each subject. Researchers also measured the corresponding heart rate to this level.
Researchers found a direct correlation between high BMI and poor cardiovascular state in the children. They also note that physical activity close to the optimal fat consumption rate can improve metabolic and cardiovascular health in obese children.