A study found that young people using protein shakes and other supplements might worry too much about their muscles. This worry is called muscle dysmorphia. It makes them feel like their muscles are never big enough. Many young people want to look like the pictures they see online. But using too many supplements can make them feel worse.

People with muscle dysmorphia might exercise too much or eat in a strict way. They might also feel sad or worried about how they look. Even if they get big muscles, they still feel unhappy. The study says we need to be careful with supplements because they can be unsafe. It’s important to help young people feel good about their bodies without using too many supplements.

Original news source: Muscle-building supplements may put teens at risk for a body image disorder, study finds (CNN)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– CHARADES
Instructions: Write down words or phrases from the article related to muscle dysmorphia, supplements, or exercise. Students take turns acting out the words without speaking while the others guess what they are.

– WORD ASSOCIATION
Instructions: Start with a word from the article, like “muscle.” Students take turns saying the first word that comes to their mind related to “muscle.” This continues around the room, building vocabulary and connections.

– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a simple questionnaire with statements based on the article, like “Using supplements is a good idea” or “I feel happy about my body.” Students walk around the room and ask their classmates to agree or disagree, then share the results in small groups.

– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a large sheet of paper or whiteboard, write “Muscle Dysmorphia” in the center. Students brainstorm related ideas (like “supplements,” “exercise,” “feelings”) and draw connections between them, helping to visualize the concepts from the article.

– TWO TRUTHS AND A LIE
Instructions: Students come up with three statements related to muscle dysmorphia or supplements—two true and one false. They take turns sharing their statements with the class, while others guess which one is the lie. This encourages speaking and critical thinking.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is muscle dysmorphia?
2. How do young people feel about their muscles when they have muscle dysmorphia?
3. What do many young people want to look like?
4. What can happen if people use too many supplements?
5. How might people with muscle dysmorphia exercise?
6. How do young people feel about their bodies even if they have big muscles?
7. Why is it important to help young people feel good about their bodies?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

A study found that young people using protein shakes and other supplements might (1)______ too much about their (2)______. This worry is called muscle dysmorphia. It makes them feel like their muscles are never big enough. (3)______ young people want to look like the pictures they see online. But using too many (4)______ can make them feel worse.

People with muscle dysmorphia might (5)______ too much or eat in a (6)______ way. They might also feel sad or worried about how they look. Even if they get big muscles, they still feel unhappy. The study says we need to be careful with supplements because they can be unsafe. It’s important to help young people feel good about their bodies without (7)______ too (8)______ supplements.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a protein shake?
2. Do you like to exercise? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you did not like how you looked?
4. What is a supplement?
5. Do you think it is good to worry about your muscles? Why?
6. How would you feel if you saw a picture of someone very strong?
7. Do you like to eat healthy food? Why or why not?
8. What do you think makes people happy about their bodies?
9. How would you feel if someone said you were too small?
10. Do you think it is okay to use supplements? Why or why not?
11. What is a way to feel good about yourself?
12. How would you feel if you could not stop exercising?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. supplements
2. muscles
3. dysmorphia
4. exercise
5. strict
6. unhappy
7. unsafe
8. study
9. careful
10. bodies

Meanings:
(A) Not safe, could be harmful
(B) Feeling that something is not right with how you look
(C) Learning about something by looking at it closely
(D) Moving your body to stay healthy and strong
(E) Following rules very closely
(F) Special things you eat or drink to help your body
(G) Parts of your body that help you move and lift things
(H) The parts of you that make you, like arms and legs
(I) Not feeling happy
(J) Watching out so nothing bad happens
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What do young people worry about when they use protein shakes?
(a) Their hair
(b) Their muscles
(c) Their shoes
(d) Their toys

2. What is the name of the worry about muscles?
(a) Muscle fun
(b) Muscle happiness
(c) Muscle dysmorphia
(d) Muscle strength

3. What do many young people want to look like?
(a) Pictures in books
(b) Pictures in movies
(c) Pictures they see online
(d) Pictures in magazines

4. What can too many supplements make young people feel?
(a) Worse
(b) Better
(c) Happy
(d) Tired

5. What might people with muscle dysmorphia do too much?
(a) Sleep
(b) Play games
(c) Eat candy
(d) Exercise

6. How do people with muscle dysmorphia feel about their looks?
(a) Sad or worried
(b) Happy and excited
(c) Tired and sleepy
(d) Hungry and thirsty

7. What does the study say about supplements?
(a) They are always good
(b) They are fun to use
(c) They help everyone
(d) They can be unsafe

8. What is important for young people to feel good about?
(a) Their clothes
(b) Their bodies
(c) Their friends
(d) Their games

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. This worry is called muscle dysmorphia.
2. Young people sometimes worry about their muscles.
3. Muscle dysmorphia makes people feel their muscles are not big enough.
4. Using too few supplements can make young people feel worse.
5. People with muscle dysmorphia may not exercise enough.
6. They might not eat very strict diets.
7. Many young people don’t want to look like people in pictures online.
8. It is important to help young people feel good about their bodies.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
Check your answers with our free English writing assistant!

1. What do some young people worry about?
2. What is muscle dysmorphia?
3. How do young people try to look like pictures they see?
4. What can happen if young people use too many supplements?
5. Why is it important to feel good about our bodies?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is muscle dysmorphia?
Muscle dysmorphia is when people worry too much about their muscles and think they are not big enough.

2. How do young people feel about their muscles when they have muscle dysmorphia?
They feel sad and think their muscles are never big enough.

3. What do many young people want to look like?
Many young people want to look like the pictures they see online.

4. What can happen if people use too many supplements?
Using too many supplements can make them feel worse and can be unsafe.

5. How might people with muscle dysmorphia exercise?
They might exercise too much.

6. How do young people feel about their bodies even if they have big muscles?
They still feel unhappy about their bodies.

7. Why is it important to help young people feel good about their bodies?
It is important to help them feel good without using too many supplements that can be bad for them.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) worry
(2) muscles
(3) Many
(4) supplements
(5) exercise
(6) strict
(7) using
(8) many
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. supplements
Answer: (F) Special things you eat or drink to help your body

2. muscles
Answer: (G) Parts of your body that help you move and lift things

3. dysmorphia
Answer: (B) Feeling that something is not right with how you look

4. exercise
Answer: (D) Moving your body to stay healthy and strong

5. strict
Answer: (E) Following rules very closely

6. unhappy
Answer: (I) Not feeling happy

7. unsafe
Answer: (A) Not safe, could be harmful

8. study
Answer: (C) Learning about something by looking at it closely

9. careful
Answer: (J) Watching out so nothing bad happens

10. bodies
Answer: (H) The parts of you that make you, like arms and legs
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What do young people worry about when they use protein shakes?
Answer: (b) Their muscles

2. What is the name of the worry about muscles?
Answer: (c) Muscle dysmorphia

3. What do many young people want to look like?
Answer: (c) Pictures they see online

4. What can too many supplements make young people feel?
Answer: (a) Worse

5. What might people with muscle dysmorphia do too much?
Answer: (d) Exercise

6. How do people with muscle dysmorphia feel about their looks?
Answer: (a) Sad or worried

7. What does the study say about supplements?
Answer: (d) They can be unsafe

8. What is important for young people to feel good about?
Answer: (b) Their bodies
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. This worry is called muscle dysmorphia. (Answer: True)
2. Young people sometimes worry about their muscles. (Answer: True)
3. Muscle dysmorphia makes people feel their muscles are not big enough. (Answer: True)
4. Using too few supplements can make young people feel worse. (Answer: False)
5. People with muscle dysmorphia may not exercise enough. (Answer: False)
6. They might not eat very strict diets. (Answer: False)
7. Many young people don’t want to look like people in pictures online. (Answer: False)
8. It is important to help young people feel good about their bodies. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧