Obsession Explained: What is maxxing height? A new trend pushing teenagers to take cancer drugs to get taller? Why?

Teenagers are reportedly turning to a prescription cancer drug in the hope of gaining a few extra inches as a social media trend called “heightmaxxing” fuels anxiety about physical appearance and height.

The trend is part of a wider “maxxing” culture in which young people share methods they believe can help them achieve their ideal version of themselves. One prominent offshoot is “lookmaxxing,” where young men exchange tips on improving their facial features, physique, and overall appearance.

According to a Rolling Stone report, some teenagers started taking erdafitinib, a drug used to treat some cancers, because they believed it could help them grow. Online, they refer to the drug as “erda” and share up-to-date information about their height, duration of use and reported side effects.

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Why are teenagers taking erdafitinib to increase height?

Medical reports of unexpected growth in children receiving erdafitinib during cancer treatment appear to have sparked interest in the drug. However, it has not been approved or established as a height increasing treatment.

One teenager featured in the report is Zak, a 17-year-old TikTok user from New York who said he had been using erdafitinib intermittently since he was 15.

He allegedly purchased the drug from foreign online sellers, initially paying $300 (approx. ₹28,206) for a month’s supply. Aware of the risks of taking the cancer drug without medical supervision, Zak said he began putting money aside for potential hospital bills.

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He attributed his height-related insecurities in part to social media videos discussing how tall men should be to find women, as well as being teased at school for being shorter than the girls in his class.

Zak reported side effects including nosebleeds, extremely dry skin and severe joint pain. Although he has since stopped taking the drug, he said he was happy with the growth he believed he had experienced and was considering taking it again. According to his own measurements, he grew several inches between 15 and 17.

What is erdafitinib and what does the research say?

Erdafitinib, sold under the brand name Balversa, blocks proteins known as fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs), which play a role in regulating cell growth.

The prescription drug, which was originally approved in the US in 2019, is used to treat some adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, a type of cancer that commonly affects the bladder, when their tumors have specific genetic changes.

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The study, titled Accelerated Linear Growth during Erdafitinib Treatment: An FGFR-Related, but Growth Factor and Sex Steroid-Independent Mechanism?, published online July 31, 2024, examined two children treated at the Medical University of Vienna.

The researchers reported accelerated linear growth and changes in the children’s growth plates, including enlargement and increased mineralization. Both children received the drug through a compassionate use program after standard treatment options and clinical trial options had been exhausted.

However, the findings do not show that erdafitinib is safe or effective for healthy teenagers who want to increase their height.

Doctors warn against taking cancer drugs for cosmetic reasons

Adalbert Raimann, a pediatric endocrinologist at the Medical University of Vienna, explained that the drug blocks proteins involved in regulating bone growth. He warned that the long-term consequences of interfering with these processes in otherwise healthy children remain unknown.

Andrew Dauber, a pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Nationwide Hospital, also said he would not prescribe erdafitinib to help children grow, calling the practice too dangerous.