Researchers warn of the dangers of “dry scooping”, a practice that has become common among adolescents and young adults.
- We talk about muscle dysmorphia when men develop an obsession centered on the fact that their body is not sufficiently slender and muscular.
- Patients with muscle dysmorphia may use androgen supplements, which can be dangerous.
Swallow large spoonfuls of protein powders, without diluting them in water as the manufacturers recommend, before playing sports, this is the principle of “dry scooping”, which means “dry scoop” in French. The goal of this trend, popularized on Tiktok in 2021, is to enhance the effects of powders, which contain vitamins, caffeine and amino acids.
“Dry scooping”, a dangerous practice for heart health
“Despite the purported benefits of this practice, such as increased energy due to the high concentration of caffeine, it can have serious health consequences, including inhalation problems, heart abnormalities and digestive problems. To date, no empirical cohort has studied dry scooping as part of epidemiological research.said scientists at the University of Toronto.
That is why they decided to carry out a study, the results of which were published in the journal Eating Behaviors. To determine the prevalence of “dry scooping”, the researchers analyzed the health behaviors of 2,731 Canadian adolescents and young adults. Participants were asked about their eating habits over the past twelve months.
Spending more time on social media is associated with “dry scooping”
According to the work, 16.9% of volunteers said they had practiced “dry scooping” at least once during the previous year, and on average 50 times over this period. This trend “was significantly more common in males (21.8%) than in females (14.2%) and transgender participants (8%)”. According to the team, young men who said they did strength training, spent more time on social media, and had significant symptoms of muscle dysmorphia were more likely to practice “dry scooping.”
“Our data shows that new dietary practices that become popular on social media and in gyms can lead to a greater likelihood of engagement. We need to think of these risk factors as potential areas for prevention and treatment. “intervention. We need physical and mental health professionals to know about these tendencies aimed at increasing performance and muscle,” concluded Kyle T. Ganson, author of the study, in a statement.
