How rampant is Growth Hormone/HGH use?

[broccoli]

I have been hearing more and more about kids (primarily boys) on human growth hormone.  The apparent rationale is that parents think the kids aren't developing fast enough, are physically disadvantaged, etc.  Some parents can get the cost covered by health insurance, others pay out of pocket (apparently very expensive).  To me, this sounds like part quackery, part terrible parenting, as kids naturally develop at different times.

 

In junior golf, it seems that long hitters have an early advantage that tends to go away once all kids are developed and distances converge, but it may be hard for some parents to wait?

 

It is hard not to notice, however, that some kids appear to have unusually large hands, large veins running down their forearms, and even somewhat larger heads than what would appear to be normal, natural development.  I have heard many doctors are happy to prescribe growth hormone, as they say it needs to be done "before the growth plates close" or something like that.  Even our own pediatrician mentioned it recently.

 

To me, this is very sad as it seems that kids are become dramatically overmedicated, when the first order of business should "first do no harm." 

 

Is anyone seeing the same thing?  What is going on here?

[Golfquant]

Should AJGA do random screening for HGH before events? 

 

I noticed CW has big hands for his size - red flag!!!

[Tugu]

4 hours ago, broccoli said:

I have been hearing more and more about kids (primarily boys) on human growth hormone.  The apparent rationale is that parents think the kids aren't developing fast enough, are physically disadvantaged, etc.  Some parents can get the cost covered by health insurance, others pay out of pocket (apparently very expensive).  To me, this sounds like part quackery, part terrible parenting, as kids naturally develop at different times.

 

In junior golf, it seems that long hitters have an early advantage that tends to go away once all kids are developed and distances converge, but it may be hard for some parents to wait?

 

It is hard not to notice, however, that some kids appear to have unusually large hands, large veins running down their forearms, and even somewhat larger heads than what would appear to be normal, natural development.  I have heard many doctors are happy to prescribe growth hormone, as they say it needs to be done "before the growth plates close" or something like that.  Even our own pediatrician mentioned it recently.

 

To me, this is very sad as it seems that kids are become dramatically overmedicated, when the first order of business should "first do no harm." 

 

Is anyone seeing the same thing?  What is going on here?

Seriously?🤯

[MRx747]

Are we talking about the Messi growth hormones shots? I have a friend with a kid that is smaller and shorter than kids 2-3 years younger and after checking with a specialist the kid is now getting this Messi shot daily, but in no way do I see him being stronger or having a physically advantage if he were to play sports, kid is still the same funny skinny kid I have know my whole life.

[jayslaysongolf]

I have heard about kids taking steroids.  It been a rumor out there for a while.

 

One would hope that is just a rumor.  A parent pushing performance drugs on their kid is a monster.

[mrshinsa]

Why not just hold them back a year, or two?  I've seen plenty of 12yos with a full-grown mustache.

[leezer99]

Not in kids but I know a bunch of dads that are using HGH now. 

[Hawkeye77]

On 4/24/2024 at 12:05 PM, broccoli said:

I have been hearing more and more about kids (primarily boys) on human growth hormone.  The apparent rationale is that parents think the kids aren't developing fast enough, are physically disadvantaged, etc.  Some parents can get the cost covered by health insurance, others pay out of pocket (apparently very expensive).  To me, this sounds like part quackery, part terrible parenting, as kids naturally develop at different times.

 

In junior golf, it seems that long hitters have an early advantage that tends to go away once all kids are developed and distances converge, but it may be hard for some parents to wait?

 

It is hard not to notice, however, that some kids appear to have unusually large hands, large veins running down their forearms, and even somewhat larger heads than what would appear to be normal, natural development.  I have heard many doctors are happy to prescribe growth hormone, as they say it needs to be done "before the growth plates close" or something like that.  Even our own pediatrician mentioned it recently.

 

To me, this is very sad as it seems that kids are become dramatically overmedicated, when the first order of business should "first do no harm." 

 

Is anyone seeing the same thing?  What is going on here?

This is in poor taste - rank “rumor”, no evidence. 

Edited April 27 by Hawkeye77

[st1800e]

On 4/24/2024 at 11:05 AM, broccoli said:

It is hard not to notice, however, that some kids appear to have unusually large hands, large veins running down their forearms, and even somewhat larger heads than what would appear to be normal, natural development. 

Really?  Maybe you think they're aliens, there’s TV shows for that.