If you have a teenager at home, you may have heard a word that sounds made up. Looksmaxxing. It means squeezing the most out of how you look. A lot of what sits under that label is ordinary and healthy, like a haircut, better sleep and a gym membership. The trend started in niche corners of the internet and spread across TikTok and YouTube through “glow-up” content. It has its own influencers now, and the audience skews towards teenage boys.
Here’s why we’re writing about it. A University of Michigan team led by Phil Veliz used the Monitoring the Future survey, a long-running, nationally representative study of US students in eighth, tenth and twelfth grade. Across 2001 to 2024, they analysed 874,931 teenagers with an average age of 16, and about 85 per cent of those approached responded.
The headline is the recent jump. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, past-year creatine use among boys rose from 8.71 to 16.57 per cent. Among girls, it rose from 1.22 to 3.27 per cent. Boys’ use nearly doubled, and girls’ more than doubled, though girls started from a much lower base. Across the whole period, creatine use among all respondents rose from 6.29 to 9.68 per cent, so roughly one teenager in ten.
Steroids went the other way. Past-year use fell from 1.99 per cent in 2001-02 to 0.67 per cent in 2023-24. For boys the drop was from 2.92 to 0.78 per cent, and for girls 1.11 to 0.41 per cent.
The good news first
Fewer teenagers are using steroids, which the paper links to cardiometabolic, psychiatric and reproductive harms. Teens who want to feel stronger are increasingly reaching for creatine, one of the most studied supplements there is. And the rise gives parents, coaches and brands a reason to start an honest conversation.
Why is use rising? The paper reports the trends, not the reasons. Veliz said in the university’s statement that he ran the study because of the rise in social media trends celebrating a gym culture, and the rise of looksmaxxers. That’s his hypothesis. A survey can’t prove it, and teens have plenty of other reasons to take creatine, from sport to training with friends. He was also clear that this isn’t necessarily cause for alarm.
Looksmaxxing: the healthy part and the part to watch
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel strong and confident in your body. Training, eating well and sleeping properly are all good for teenagers.
What experts worry about is a message sitting underneath some of this content: that appearance decides your success in dating, work and life, which is misleading and can do damage. Veliz pointed out that looksmaxxing content is aimed at boys, but body image pressure affects girls too. A 2022 survey found 46 per cent of 13 to 17-year-olds said social media made them feel worse about their bodies.
So the useful question for a parent isn’t “is my teen taking creatine?” It’s “what is my teen hearing about their body, and where?”
The attitude data adds a small watch-point. In 2001-02, 36.95 per cent of teenagers said steroids were fairly or very easy to get. By 2023-24 it was 17.94 per cent. But the share who saw steroid use as a “great risk” slipped from 62.10 to 55.79 per cent, and disapproval dipped slightly too, even as use fell. The authors also note that school surveys can underestimate true steroid use. Veliz’s concern is that more accepting attitudes could raise the risk of future use. Nobody can yet say whether this generation’s habits will follow them into adulthood, which is why these conversations matter now.
What the safety evidence says
Our position is the one held by the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN): creatine monohydrate has a strong safety record across the lifespan. Its position statement says that with proper precautions and supervision, creatine monohydrate for child and adolescent athletes is acceptable, with a favourable safety profile compared with dangerous anabolic drugs, and that under-18 warnings on labels are likely unnecessary given the science. A more recent ISSN paper goes further, arguing that creatine is safe and beneficial throughout the lifespan and that restricting sales to young people isn’t backed by the evidence.
For balance, the study’s authors point out that pediatric guidance has recommended against creatine use under 18 because evidence on safety and efficacy in young people is limited. A review of the research found creatine used in children and adolescents without clinically significant adverse effects, but long-term safety data remain limited.
Both things can be true. The evidence is reassuring, and it’s thinner for young people than for adults. That’s why the word “supervision” in the ISSN position matters so much.
What responsible looks like
For parents. Start with curiosity before rules. Ask why your teen is interested. Is it for a sport, or because of something they saw online? Then bring in your GP or paediatrician, especially for anyone with a medical condition. Creatine works alongside sleep, proper meals and sensible training, not instead of them. And keep an eye on the wider picture. Child mental health specialists are concerned about the effect of this content on teens with body dysmorphic disorder, and about hours spent in front of the mirror. If appearance is taking over their thoughts, that conversation matters more than any supplement.
For teens. Creatine is a training tool, and a well-researched one. It won’t change your face, and it can’t make you worth more or less. Wanting to get stronger is a great goal. You don’t need to chase a standard that’s designed to make you feel behind.
For brands. We have a real chance to set the tone here. Responsible means never selling on insecurity: no “glow up” or “bulk” messaging that targets young people, and no partnering with influencers who push extreme routines. It means clear, honest labelling, independent third-party testing, and saying plainly that creatine is a food supplement with a good safety record, not a transformation. It also means encouraging young people to speak to a healthcare professional rather than hiding behind either “totally safe for everyone” or a blanket warning label. The ISSN position gives us a line we can stand behind: supported, supervised use.
What this study can’t tell us
It’s a cross-sectional survey, so it shows what teenagers report in each year, not what any one of them goes on to do. Use is self-reported, and as described, it records whether a teenager used creatine in the past year, not how much, how often or which product. It’s US data, so we shouldn’t assume the same numbers apply elsewhere. And it can’t tell us why use is rising.
The takeaway
Teenagers wanting to feel strong is a good thing, and creatine is a sensible, well-studied option when used with the right support. The job for parents, coaches and brands is to make sure young people hear the full story: what the science supports, what it doesn’t, and that their worth was never tied to their reflection. We’d rather be part of that conversation.
Read the study: Veliz P, et al. Recent trends in past-year steroid use, past-year creatine use, and attitudes toward steroid use among US adolescents. Ann Epidemiol, 2026.
This post is educational and does not constitute medical advice.
We all rise together,
Rachael Jennings | Co-Founder + CBO, Jenerise
Worth knowing: Jenerise makes Jenerise Cr.01™, a third-party verified, precision-grade B2B creatine ingredient. This content is educational and entertaining but also drives awareness of our product.
Want more support?
For more help on creatine, teenagers and performance-enhancing drugs, take a look at our partners at the Taylor Hooton Foundation. This nonprofit is a leader in educating young people and the adults around them about appearance and performance-enhancing substances. Their resources can help parents, coaches and teens have honest, informed conversations.
More creatine education
Frequently asked questions
What is creatine?
Creatine is a natural substance that your body makes, and you also get a little from foods like meat and fish. It helps your muscles make quick energy for short, hard efforts like sprinting or lifting something heavy. People can also use it as a supplement, and it is one of the most studied supplements in the world.
Is creatine safe for teenagers?
A group of sports nutrition experts called the International Society of Sports Nutrition says creatine has a strong safety record. It says young athletes can use creatine monohydrate with proper precautions and supervision. But children’s doctors have said there is not enough research on teenagers yet, and they have advised against use under 18. This is why it is best to talk to a doctor first.
What is looksmaxxing?
Looksmaxxing means trying to make the most of how you look. Some of it is simple and healthy, like exercise, sleep and grooming. But some online videos say that how you look decides how happy or successful you will be, and experts say that idea is misleading and can do harm. You are worth the same no matter what you look like.
Why are more teenagers using creatine?
A big US study asked nearly 875,000 teenagers about it. Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, creatine use went from about 9 in 100 boys to about 17 in 100 boys. For girls, it went from about 1 in 100 to about 3 in 100. The study did not find out why. The lead researcher thinks social media trends like looksmaxxing could be one reason, but that is a guess, and teens may also take it for sports or training. At the same time, steroid use went down.
What should a parent do if their teenager wants to take creatine?
Start by asking why they want it, and listen without judging. Then talk to your family doctor or paediatrician, especially if your teen has any health problems. Remind your teen that sleep, good food and training matter most, and that creatine can only help alongside those. It is also a good idea to chat about what they see online and how it makes them feel about their body.
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