A social media trend called “heightmaxxing” is pushing some teenagers, mostly boys, to take a prescription cancer drug in hopes of growing taller, according to physicians raising alarms about the practice.
The medication, erdafitinib, is approved to treat advanced bladder cancer and is known online by nicknames like “ERDA” or “Erta.” Teens reportedly are obtaining it on the black market after seeing online claims that it can boost height.
Dr. Stephanie Widmer, a New York City-based emergency medicine physician and Fox News medical contributor, said the trend is deeply troubling.
“It’s extremely concerning that teenagers are experimenting with powerful cancer medications in an attempt to grow taller,” Widmer said. “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.”
Johnson & Johnson, the drug’s maker, told Rolling Stone that erdafitinib has never been approved to stimulate height growth and that its safety and effectiveness have not been established for any pediatric or adolescent use.
Where the rumor comes from
The trend appears to trace back to medical case reports of unexpected growth spurts in children being treated for brain tumors with the drug. A 2024 study in Hormone Research in Paediatrics documented accelerated growth in two pediatric patients, and a separate case report described a teenager who grew more than 5 inches during treatment — but who also developed serious skeletal complications.
Dr. Jessica Gray, a family physician in Lubbock, Texas, said those growth spurts should not be mistaken for healthy development. Forced, rapid growth can trigger dangerous structural problems, including premature growth plate damage and bone fractures, she warned.
Widmer explained that the drug works by blocking specific cellular signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth — pathways that also play a role in bone development, which may help explain the unexpected growth seen in some pediatric cancer patients.
No shortcuts, serious risks
Widmer stressed that height is overwhelmingly determined by genetics and that there are no biological shortcuts around it. Once growth plates close near the end of puberty, medications cannot reopen them — meaning older teens taking the drug face serious health risks with no chance of actually gaining height.
“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.”
Other reported side effects of the medication include skeletal pain, especially in the hips or knees, as well as mouth sores, loose nails and skin disorders.
Widmer also pointed to the broader role of social media in shaping teenagers’ health decisions, saying online discussions about appearance and self-improvement can expose young men to unsafe practices with no medical backing.
“Parents need to understand that this goes beyond teenagers being insecure about their height,” Widmer 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.”
Doctors are urging parents to watch for warning signs such as unusual joint pain or unexplained physical changes, and to talk with their children if they suspect they may be using medications obtained online. Teenagers worried about their height or growth should see 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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