Viral ‘heightmaxxing’ trend has teen boys taking cancer drugs to grow taller, doctors warn of risks

Medical experts are warning of a dangerous new social media trend known as "heightmaxxing," amid reports that teenagers are taking black-market cancer medications in an effort to grow taller.

Adolescents, primarily teenage boys, are reportedly turning to erdafitinib — often referred to online as "ERDA" or "Erta" — a targeted prescription drug approved to treat advanced bladder cancer.

Teenagers are reportedly experimenting with the prescription medication after encountering online discussions suggesting it could increase height.

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"It’s extremely concerning that teenagers are experimenting with powerful cancer medications in an attempt to grow taller," Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician and Fox News medical contributor, told Fox News Digital.

"These drugs were developed to treat serious medical conditions, not to enhance physical appearance, and taking them without a legitimate medical indication or physician supervision can have devastating consequences."

The drug maker, Johnson & Johnson, pushed back against the practice in a statement to Rolling Stone, emphasizing that the medication has never been approved to stimulate height growth and that its safety and effectiveness have not been established for any pediatric or adolescent use.

Medical research has documented unexpected growth spurts in children receiving erdafitinib for brain tumors. A 2024 study published in Hormone Research in Paediatrics described accelerated growth in two pediatric patients, while a separate case report documented a teenager who grew more than 5 inches during treatment but developed serious skeletal complications.

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Physicians caution that these spurts do not equal healthy skeletal growth. Dr. Jessica Gray, a family physician in Lubbock, Texas, warned that forced, rapid growth can trigger dangerous structural problems, including premature growth plate damage and bone fractures.

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The drug works by blocking specific cellular signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth, Widmer shared during an appearance on Fox News' "America's Newsroom."

Those same pathways also play a role in bone development, which may help explain why some pediatric patients experienced unexpected growth during treatment.

Widmer noted that height is overwhelmingly governed by genetics, and biological shortcuts do not exist. Once growth plates close near the end of puberty, medications cannot reopen them, meaning older adolescents taking the compound are incurring catastrophic health hazards without any chance of gaining height, she said.

"One of the biggest concerns is that these medications can cause serious side effects, including potentially permanent vision damage, elevated phosphate levels and other metabolic abnormalities," Widmer said.

"We’re talking about adolescents whose bodies are still developing, and exposing them to these risks for a cosmetic goal is particularly troubling."

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Other warning signs and side effects linked to the medication include skeletal pain — especially in the hips or knees — as well as mouth sores, loose nails and skin disorders.

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The trend has also raised concerns about the influence of social media on teenagers' decisions about their health. Widmer noted that online discussions about physical appearance and self-improvement can expose young men to potentially unsafe practices that lack medical evidence.

"Parents need to understand that this goes beyond teenagers being insecure about their height," the doctor said.

"We’re talking about young people potentially obtaining prescription cancer medications and experimenting with them outside of medical supervision. If a child has concerns about their growth, that conversation belongs in a pediatrician’s office, not on an internet forum."

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Doctors advise parents to watch for symptoms such as unusual joint pain or unexplained physical changes, and to speak with their children if they suspect they are using medications obtained online.

Teenagers concerned about their height or growth should consult a pediatrician before considering any medication.

"We should be encouraging teenagers to prioritize their health, not teaching them to gamble with it," Widmer said. "No amount of additional height is worth risking permanent damage to your vision or other serious and potentially unknown medical complications."

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Aggressive cancer type linked to common chemical exposure in new study

Two "forever chemicals" have been associated with a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, according to research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Forever chemicals, known as PFAS, are a group of synthetic chemicals that break down extremely slowly and can build up in the environment and the human body.

PFAS have been used in nonstick cookware, upholstery and clothing, as well as some food packaging and personal care items.

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The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with higher blood levels of two types of PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) — were more likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer.

ER-negative breast cancers tend to be "more aggressive" and have worse outcomes compared to breast cancers that respond to estrogen, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press release.

Data was drawn from a large U.S. research project called the Sister Study, which investigated environmental and genetic factors related to breast cancer. All participants had a sister diagnosed with breast cancer at enrollment but did not have breast cancer themselves.

Researchers measured 17 PFAS in blood samples collected before diagnosis from 1,609 women who later developed breast cancer and a comparison sample of 2,269 women, then examined links between PFAS levels and breast cancer risk by tumor type.

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The highest PFOA exposure group had a 67% higher rate of ER-negative breast cancer. The rate was 93% higher in the highest PFOS group compared to those in the lowest group. These figures represent relative differences between groups, not an individual woman’s chance of developing breast cancer.

The researchers found no clear association between PFOA or PFOS and breast cancer overall.

"This study, along with the accompanying meta-analysis of previous studies, provides evidence that two PFAS are related to a higher ER-negative breast cancer risk," study leader Alexandra White, Ph.D., a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, told Fox News Digital.

As this study focused mainly on older PFAS chemicals that have been largely phased out, the researcher said experts know "very little" about the PFAS that are replacing them, which could serve as a limitation.

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"They tend to be shorter-chain compounds and may be less persistent in our bodies and the environment, but we know little about how they may influence health outcomes, such as breast cancer," she said.

The findings show an association, not proof of causation, between forever chemical exposure and breast cancer risk, as the authors noted that more research is needed.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that "women deserve clear answers about how chemicals in their environment may affect their health," calling for further investigation.

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"Under President Trump’s leadership, we will pursue the evidence, confront environmental health risks and give women the information they need to protect their health," he said.

Medical oncologist Dr. Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a New York City-based breast and gynecological cancer specialist who worked at Memorial Sloan Kettering for more than 25 years, also acknowledged that forever chemicals can increase cancer risk.

"Oftentimes, once you've been exposed to them, they will accumulate in your body and cause havoc, and can actually increase the risk of carcinogenic transformation of cells," she told Fox News Digital. "What was interesting about this study is that the link was found only in ER-negative breast cancers, which is a known aggressive subtype of cancer."

Few risk factors beyond genetic predispositions are known for ER-negative breast cancer, Troso-Sandoval noted, adding that "the study did not show that it increased the risk of all breast cancers in general."

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She suggested PFAS might damage DNA or interfere with the body's ability to repair that damage or destroy cancerous cells.

While patients with ER-negative breast cancer had higher levels of these compounds in their bodies, that does not prove the chemicals caused their cancers, according to Troso-Sandoval.

First author Che-Jung Chang, Ph.D., a former research fellow at NIH and a current researcher at DLH, noted that although PFAS are "persistent" in the environment and in the human body, exposure is "potentially modifiable."

"People can take steps to reduce their exposure, and these findings could open new avenues for prevention," she said.

Troso-Sandoval recommends reviewing everyday sources of exposure to PFAS and other potentially harmful chemicals, including the following:

Her concerns about black plastic utensils involve other chemical contaminants, including flame retardants.

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"Try to look at the products that you are using very frequently, and those are the first ones to swap out," she advised. "Maybe consider cooking with stainless steel pots and pans ... I recommend not heating up any food in plastic containers, because as you heat these plastics, they tend to leach more of the compounds into our foods."

She recommends reviewing cosmetics and personal care products that may contain some of these compounds.

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New California law will restrict sales of some muscle-building supplements to minors

Gavin Newsom has signed legislation banning the sale of some "muscle-building supplements" to Californians under 18 years of age.

The legislation (AB 2030), which was signed on Sept. 28, covers over-the-counter diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building. It will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2027.

"Nonprescribed, medically unapproved products may cause dangerous side effects," the governor’s office said in its announcement. "Products can be mislabeled or contaminated with substances such as steroids."

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California’s law restricts minors’ access to supplements marketed for muscle building – specifically, those that are "labeled, marketed or otherwise represented for the purpose of achieving weight loss or building muscle."

Courts may consider whether a product contains "creatine, green tea extract, raspberry ketone, garcinia cambogia or green coffee bean extract," the legislation states.

The law does not impose an outright ban on all creatine products. Restrictions depend on how the supplements are labeled, advertised and marketed to consumers.

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The law does not apply to people under 18 who have a prescription for an over-the-counter diet pill or dietary supplement for weight loss or muscle-building.

The release cites research indicating that nearly one in 10 adolescents have used such products.

It also references studies linking over-the-counter diet pill use to a sixfold greater likelihood of an eating disorder diagnosis within three years.

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The announcement does not specify whether whey protein or creatine products are included in the ban.

Sellers who do not adhere to the new law will face civil fines of up to $500 per violation.

The American Herbal Products Association, based in Maryland, released a statement opposing the law.

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"Lacking any scientific justification, AB 2030 casts a shadow over safe, beneficial products," said Robert Marriott, the association's vice president of regulatory and government affairs, in the statement.

The organization argues that the law's scope is unclear and notes that it does not explicitly exempt protein products.

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The Center for Science in the Public Interest, based in Washington, D.C., shared public support of the new legislation.

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"Manufacturers of these products often prey on kids and teens with deceptive claims that lack any scientific evidence," said Jensen Jose, a regulatory counsel at CSPI, which co-sponsored the legislation.

Dr. Sigrid Wolf, a pediatric sports medicine physician at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, recently addressed the use of creatine products among teenagers, stating that evidence of benefits is limited.

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"In some cases, they might even be dangerous," wrote Wolf, who is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' sports medicine committee, in an article published on HealthyChildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics' parenting website. 

"Creatine can come with negative side effects such as weight gain, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea."

"Studies show that many supplements contain harmful substances that go undetected," she added, instead recommending prioritizing nutrition, training, sleep and hydration.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment.

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Men and women who smoke marijuana may experience different effects, study suggests

Men who use cannabis occasionally may feel stronger effects from the drug than women with similar use habits, new research suggests.

The UCLA Health study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, included 44 healthy adults between the ages of 21 and 55, evenly split between men and women. Researchers divided participants based on whether they used cannabis frequently or occasionally.

Each participant took part in three separate sessions: smoking cannabis with no THC, a lower amount of THC or a higher amount. They did not know which one they were receiving at the time.

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Among those who used cannabis occasionally, men reported feeling more high, sedated and impaired than women with similar use habits, according to the study.

The men also reported more unpleasant effects, including anxiety, and their heart rate rose significantly after using active cannabis.

Blood THC levels alone did not appear to explain the difference.

Men and women who used cannabis occasionally had similar peak THC levels, even though the men reported stronger effects, researchers found.

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The pattern was different among people who used cannabis more often. Men and women in the frequent-use group generally responded similarly to active cannabis.

Frequent users were also more likely than occasional users to say they liked the effects, wanted to use cannabis again and chose to take more during the study, regardless of gender.

The findings challenge some previous research suggesting women may be more sensitive to the effects of cannabis.

"Much of what we thought we knew about sex differences in cannabis effects came from animal research and from human studies that pooled data from different trials," Dr. Ziva Cooper, the study's principal investigator and director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, said in a press release.

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"When we designed a study to look at sex and frequency of use at the same time, and controlled for hormones, the picture changed," she added.

The researchers controlled for menstrual cycle timing among the women in the study, who were not using hormonal birth control.

The findings suggest that a person's cannabis habits may be important when considering how men and women respond to the drug.

"Sex and cannabis use history can both shape how someone experiences the effects of cannabis," lead author Dr. Stephanie Lake, a researcher at the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, said in the release.

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"Studying both together is key to understanding who is most at risk of higher-risk, unpleasant or beneficial experiences from cannabis."

There were several limitations to the findings, the researchers acknowledged.

The study was small, with just 44 participants, and several of the findings involving occasional male users came from exploratory analyses, meaning they need to be confirmed in larger studies.

The cannabis used in the experiment contained 4% or 10% THC, which researchers noted is weaker than many cannabis products sold today, where THC levels are commonly 20% or higher.

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Researchers said larger studies are needed to better understand whether men and women develop tolerance to cannabis differently and how those differences could affect the risk of cannabis use disorder.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

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6-minute daily habit could help Ozempic users preserve muscle, expert says

As more Americans turn to popular GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound to lose weight or manage diabetes, there is a growing focus on protecting muscle as pounds are shed.

The concern comes as 11% of U.S. adults report taking these drugs for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024, according to Gallup.

Lean mass, which includes muscle and other tissues, accounts for roughly a quarter to a third of the weight lost with these obesity treatments, research suggests.

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Gary Brecka, a biologist and longevity expert in Miami, Florida, shared with Fox News Digital his simple strategy for helping people preserve muscle — starting with just six minutes of exercise a day.

"GLP-1s can be life-saving for people, especially for people who are morbidly obese or have type 2 diabetes, but they can also be fascinating shifts in someone's trajectory of their wellness journey," he said.

"What's critically important for people who embark on a GLP-1 journey is to make sure that they are mitigating the lean body-mass loss."

Brecka emphasized that weight loss is not exclusively fat loss.

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"When most people say, ‘I want to lose weight,’ what they're really saying is, ‘I want to lose fat,’" he said. "But with GLP-1s, you have a double-edged sword. About 20% to 40% of the weight that you lose is what we call lean body mass."

Lean body mass includes not only muscle, but also water, organs, blood and connective tissues, such as tendons and ligaments. Brecka emphasized that preserving lean tissue should be a priority during treatment.

Maintaining strength also helps people remain independent as they age, supporting everyday activities such as bathing, dressing and walking.

"The more that we can maintain control and dominion over those, the more independent we can be," Brecka said.

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Challenging the body through exercise encourages it to adapt and grow stronger, Brecka said.

"But when it comes to a GLP-1 journey, you've got to give up a little bit of that comfort to reach your goals," he said.

Brecka recommends starting with six minutes of resistance exercise each day.

"People think of weight-training or resistance training as something they've got to dedicate 60 to 90 minutes to every day, and therefore they think they don't have enough time in their day," he said.

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It’s also important to pair the strength training with adequate protein to help preserve muscle during weight loss.

Protein provides amino acids that help the body build and maintain muscle and other tissues, including tendons, ligaments and cartilage, Brecka said.

Busy people who don’t have time for lengthy gym sessions can fit resistance training into their day by "snacking" on exercise, the longevity expert said.

Brecka suggested simple exercises such as holding a plank with the knees on the floor, progressing to a full plank as strength allows, or doing body-weight squats and abdominal crunches.

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He also recommended resistance exercises using dumbbells or barbells, preferably moving through a full range of motion. One example is a goblet squat, which involves holding a dumbbell near the chest while squatting and standing.

"You don't have to lift like a bodybuilder to mitigate lean body mass loss," he said. "All you have to do is provide resistance for these tissues so that your body doesn't begin to reabsorb them while you're on this GLP-1 journey."

In terms of frequency, Brecka said exercise should be "non-negotiable" as a daily practice. He recommends a minimum of three days of resistance training and a minimum of three days of cardiovascular training.

"Cardiovascular training can be as simple as walking outside, taking your dog for a 20-minute walk," he said, adding that a weighted vest can make the same walk more challenging by increasing the load the body carries.

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"If you're going to an airport, skip the moving walkway, skip the escalator, just take the steps," Brecka suggested. "There are simple things that you can do every single day … that have a dramatic impact on your body's ability to rebuild these tissues."

"These small choices throughout our lifetime are what build resilience for the decades ahead."

Protein does more than just support muscle, according to Brecka. 

Whether protein comes from chicken, beef or plant-based foods, the body breaks it down into amino acids that help build and repair muscle and other tissues, including tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

"Protein is important for so many more things than just muscle and the physical things that we see on the outside," Brecka said. "It's also responsible for building these lean body mass structures."

Current federal dietary guidelines recommend 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily.

A joint advisory on GLP-1 treatment discusses the same range during active weight loss, while emphasizing that targets should be tailored to the individual.

Brecka also urged patients to pay attention to declining energy or exercise performance, such as finding a previously easy flight of stairs suddenly difficult, and discuss those changes with a doctor.

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Forget prunes: Popular green fruit shows promise for constipation relief

Eating two green kiwis a day could help people struggling with constipation, a new review suggests.

The research, published in the journal Food, Nutrition and Health, looked at 33 previous studies and reports on kiwifruit and digestive health.

Eating two fresh green kiwis a day for about four weeks was linked to more regular bowel movements, less straining and better digestive comfort in people with constipation or irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

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In one international trial included in the review, people with constipation had about 1.5 more complete bowel movements per week, while those with IBS-C had about 1.7 more per week. Both groups also reported improved digestive comfort.

The new review suggests there may be several reasons kiwi helps with constipation.

Its fiber can add bulk and hold water in stool, while the fruit's natural water and sorbitol may help make stool easier to pass. Researchers said the benefit likely comes from several parts of the whole fruit working together rather than one component alone.

Kiwi was not necessarily more effective than other constipation treatments.

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One U.S. trial included in the review found that green kiwi, psyllium fiber and prunes all helped improve chronic constipation. Kiwi was associated with fewer side effects and was well-tolerated by many participants.

The evidence is strongest for fresh green kiwi, the researchers noted. There is less research on gold kiwi, powders and extracts, so those forms should not be assumed to have the same effect.

Jason Heiselman, a New York-based certified nutritionist and professional chef at Hungryroot in New York City, previously told Fox News Digital that kiwi is an easy fruit to work into a person's diet.

"It feels like a no-brainer to include a few slices with any meal," said Heiselman, who was not involved in the new review.

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Kiwi contains fiber along with a natural enzyme called actinidin, which can help with digestion, the nutritionist noted.

"Pairing kiwi with some good fat sources, like seeds, nuts or full-fat dairy, allows your body to absorb more nutrients," he said.

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For people who do not want to eat kiwi on its own, the fruit can also work in savory meals, according to Heiselman. "Raw kiwi slices often make their way to my dinner table," he said.

Heiselman said he pairs the fruit with salty cheeses, toasted pistachios and shaved red onion, and has also used kiwi as the base for chutneys and relishes.

There were some limitations to the findings.

The paper reviewed previous research rather than conducting a new clinical trial, and the studies differed in the people involved, the types and amounts of kiwi consumed, and the results researchers measured.

Most of the research also looked at relatively short periods of time, so more studies are needed to determine whether the benefits continue long-term.

Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

Andrea Margolis of Fox News Digital contributed reporting.

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Pro-life pregnancy center expands mission to help patients embrace their God-given gender

Helping a transgender man detransition to being a woman again is not something the pro-life, gospel-led Alternatives Pregnancy Center even notes on its website. 

But because it is a full-service women's health clinic with doctors who specialize in hormone therapy, it's simply something they do in order to give women the care they need to fully embrace their God-given gender.

It is all based on listening to the Holy Spirit, said executive director Heidi Matzke.

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Based in Sacramento, California, Alternatives is one of hundreds of like-minded pregnancy help centers across the country. These venues may have different names, but they all work to help women with unplanned pregnancies. 

Still, years ago when Matzke took over, she knew she needed help — heavenly help.   

Matzke told Fox News, "When God called me into this ministry ... I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon my heart back then, 'Heidi, you're right. You have no idea what you're doing, and that's why you'd better be face-down before me every single day. You better be fasting and praying.'"

She did fast. And she prayed and listened, she said. 

The result today is a pregnancy help center that is also a full-service health clinic for women. 

It wasn't long before another challenge came Matzke's way, involving listening to God. 

She asked the Holy Spirit to direct her very short talk at a church soon after launching the full-service clinic. The pastor gave her just two minutes.  

Matzke heard the Holy Spirit say to talk only about the women's health services the center offered and nothing else — not even the unplanned pregnancy help.  

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She did as directed. While the congregation received her respectfully and politely, Matzke said she felt a sense of defeat.

Then, between services, a man dressed as a woman came to her in the pews. 

It was just the two of them. 

He said the words that changed both their lives. 

He said to her, "What you don't know about me is that I'm biologically female, and I encountered Christ. The Holy Spirit has done work in my heart, and I am now trying to detransition. But my current doctors have basically abandoned me and I have nowhere to go."

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That "man dressed as a woman" was Jessica Rose. Her story is all over the internet.

On that faith-filled day, Rose told Matzke she had been sobbing uncontrollably during Matzke's short presentation, as she had been praying that morning that God would provide her with free women's medical care.  

By listening to the Holy Spirit, Matzke became the angel in Jessica Rose's life. 

Her doctors had been eager to start her on hormones and surgery to remove her breasts after just a 30-minute consultation. 

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Now, in the pew, Matzke was the answer to spirit-leading prayer.

The women's heath clinic at that moment became more full-service than Heidi Matzke could ever imagine. 

It became a place where all women, meaning adult females, can be strengthened and shown to love themselves as they are in the light of the Gospel of Christ.

On an episode of the "Lighthouse Faith" podcast, Matzke talks about her encounter with Jessica Rose.

She also shares how a series of events strengthened her resolve to develop a full-service health clinic led by the Gospel — and how listening to the Holy Spirit brings healing to many more people than we could ever imagine.

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