As children, we all had the good idea of devouring a spoonful of powdered chocolate, without diluting it in milk. But we (often) almost choked in the process, which put an end to this relatively uninteresting experience in terms of taste. Well the dry scooping, it’s a bit the same thing, but with “pre-workout” protein powder (to consume to boost yourself before a sports session). And if the trend was initially just a not very clever TikTok challenge as the platform abounds, it becomes a real trend to the point of worrying some doctors.
What is dry scooping used for, who practices it?
You would have understood it, dry scooping simply means “dry spoon”. And an recent newspaper study Eating Behaviors reports that one in five teenagers have done it, and 17% of them in the past year. This practice consists of swallow protein powders before doing sports without diluting them to develop their effect (at least that’s the pretext) on the organism. Normally, the manufacturers advise to ingest them once mixed with water.
But researchers from the University of Toronto are worried about it. Because they realize that this practice is not just a passing fad, but a trend that is taking hold among young Canadians (they interviewed more than 2,700 to understand their relationship to the practice).
What are the physiological risks of dry scooping?
And it’s not without risk, they note: it can cause serious effects, especially at the level of inhalation, heart problems or a disturbance of the digestive system. Remember that these powders contain caffeine, and if the latter is consumed too quickly, or inhaled, it can increase in blood pressure, or heartbeat. At least that’s what other scientists in the journal were worried about. American Academy of Pediatrics around the time the challenge was released in July 2021. According to them, the dry scooping could even be life-threatening.
Besides, thehandles recalls that protein powders intended for athletes are not harmless and should be avoided, in particular for people who have: “cardiovascular risk factors or suffering from heart disease or impaired kidney function or hepatic or neuropsychiatric disorders“. In addition, she specifies, about caffeine: “The consumption of food supplements containing caffeine is not recommended before and during a sports activity, as well as in subjects sensitive to the effects of this substance.“.
Identifying people at risk for mental health
THE dry scooping tended to relate to certain types of participants, who testified to dysmorphismof fragile mental health or who were in a pathological quest for muscle development.
The underlying concern is that teens who engage in it are being influenced by social media, not only to experiment, but also in their enduring practices, especially when it comes to sports, note Researchers. The scientists underline their desire to go and investigate on the side of the platforms to alert on dangerous challenges, or even to do prevention directly there.
Sources:
- Dietary supplements for athletes: health risks for uncertain benefits, handlesDecember 20, 2016
- Research: Dangerous Challenge on “Dry Scooping” Pre-Workout Powder is Prevalent, Popular on the Internet, American Academy of PediatricsJuly 2021
- Prevalence and correlates of dry scooping: Results from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors, Eating BehaviorsFebruary 2023
- Dry scooping: A risky dietary practice common among Canadian adolescents and young adults, University of TorontoFebruary 8, 2023