April 27, 2005

Teen Girls on Steroids

Steroid use among teen girls is at an all-time high—5% of high school girls and 7% of middle school girls admit to trying anabolic steroids at least once. Bulking up a la Governor Schwarzenegger isn't the goal, rather steroid using girls are hoping to lose weight and tone their bodies. Often these same girls suffer from eating disorders.

In teenage girls, the side effects from taking male sex hormones can include severe acne, smaller breasts, deeper voice, irregular periods, excess facial and body hair, depression, paranoia and the fits of anger dubbed "roid rage." Steroids also carry higher risks of heart attack, stroke and some forms of cancer.

Something tells me losing a few pounds isn't worth all that.

Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks at 08:52 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

April 21, 2005

Christian Cheerleading

It's supposed to be about exciting the crowd, encouraging your team and launching people into the air. And don't forget human pyramids. But cheerleading is too often a racy sideshow that seems more focused on sex appeal. The Washington Times agrees, commenting on the bare midriffs, short skirts and bump-and-grind routines.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Christian cheerleading camps are cropping up, offering an alternative for Christian school squads.

"It's not dorky. It's not '80s cheerleading," says Jaime Fulton, cheerleading coach at Western Christian High School in Covina, Calif. They just take out the gross stuff." (link via YS Update)

Posted by Kevin D. Hendricks at 10:29 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack