Cut and bulk: Teenagers explain why they want to get ripped

"Ripped. Shredded. Jacked. Swole. Which are you? Gym jargon such as this, which refers to the size and definition of muscles, has long been heard exchanged between pumped men in gym locker rooms - and now among teenagers too. TikTok videos show boys as young as 13 and 14 in school toilets, flexing veiny biceps which bulge out of their school uniforms."

"The desire to get this look, for many, might mean doing a few deadlifts and drinking a protein shake from time to time. For others, it could be working out a few times a week, playing sport and eating a lot of chicken. But for a growing few it means going to the gym most nights, often following intense training regimes from social media, and learning how to "cut and bulk"."

"Some sports nutritionists say it can be harmful - affecting hormone health, growth, and development, and could potentially lead to problems with eating disorders such as muscle dysmorphia - the idea your body is smaller and less muscly than it actually is."

Social media and gym culture have normalized adolescent pursuit of highly muscular physiques, with hashtags and TikTok content encouraging flexing and intense regimes. Some teenagers follow structured cut-and-bulk cycles, counting calories, training most nights, and mirroring influencer routines. Nutritional and training extremes can alter hormone balance, impede growth, and increase risk of eating disorders such as muscle dysmorphia. Responses range from casual weightlifting and sport to competitive bodybuilding among under-19 contestants, with some teenagers adopting tanning, posing, and strict dietary manipulation. Health professionals warn that adolescent bodies face unique vulnerabilities to prolonged calorie fluctuation and excessive resistance training.

Read at www.bbc.com