Weight Lifting, Weight Training, Bench Press & Bodybuilding
December 12, 2024

How Young Can You Weight Train?
by Pete Sisco

How Young Can You Weight Train?

We get a lot of enquiries regarding young people training with weights. Parents ask whether it is harmful or beneficial to be training with weights when their kids are teenagers.

First, my disclaimer. I'm not an MD and I don't dispense medical advice. What I can tell you is that the American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend strength training for preadolescents and adolescents. Also, the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine says, "In addition to enhancing motor skills and sports performance, regular participation in a youth resistance training program has the potential to positively influence several measurable indices of health. It helps strengthen bone, facilitate weight control, enhance psychosocial well-being, and improve one's cardiovascular risk profile. Furthermore, a stronger musculoskeletal system will enable boys and girls to perform life's daily activities with more energy and vigor and may increase a young athlete's resistance to sports-related injuries."

Strength training for youth had a shadow cast over it by claims it could possibly cause stunted growth in children. But various studies have failed to find the proverbial 'smoking gun'. Where is the kid with 6 foot tall brothers who is 4' 10" only because he lifted weights when he was 12? Apparently he does not exist despite the fact that millions of junior high school kids lift weights. More on this subject is available from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

How Young Can You Weight Train?

For my part, I have always enjoyed the fact that there is no "opposing view" on the subject of adult exercise. There is no party that says, "Avoid exercise because it's really bad for your health." Nobody. It is a rare case of 100% medical agreement that exercise in general and strength training in particular is beneficial in many very important ways. Is the same true for preadolescents and adolescents? Most agree it is.

And here's my way of looking at it. Even in the highly unlikely event of a tradeoff in terms of slight reduction of adult height, compare that to value of avoiding the rampant increase in diabetes, hypertension and depression in young people today, not to mention the value of acquiring the exercise habit early in life. To me, it's no contest! And this is not idle talk on my part. I have 6 kids and all of them have worked out using SCT and developed above average strength. My daughter could leg press 1,100 pounds when she was 15. Obviously, my sons can do even more...and all but the girls are already over 6 feet tall.

Introduce your kids to strength training. You'll be doing them a lifetime of good service.

 


Finally, strength workouts for the thinking person... 10 exercises.....5 seconds each....All the muscle you want! Guaranteed.

Pete Cisco Train Smart 2009 - Mega Deal

Train Smart 2009
30 day Quick Start Program
Super Rep Abs
Super Reps Arms
CNS Workout and Seminar
The Static Contraction Seminar

 

 

More Articles By Author Pete Sisco

More Strength Training Articles

 





Natural Bodybuilding | Growth Factor-1 | Discount Bodybuilding Supplements | Gain Weight Fast | Big Arms | How To Get Ripped
Weight Lifting Programs | Weight Lifting Equipment | Weight Training Articles | Weight Lifting Workouts | Workout Routines
Bench Press Routine | Bench Press Workout | Increase Bench Press | Bench Press Records | Bench Press Chart
Lean Body Mass | How To Run Faster | Bodybuilding Tips | Athlete Celebrity Interviews | Muscle Growth Stories
Muscular System | Healthy Bodybuilding Recipes | Muscle Man | Female Bodybuilders | Weight Lifting Exercises
Powerlifting | Dumbbell Exercise | Muscle Bodybuilding T Shirts | Vince Gironda | Vince Delmonte | Jennifer Nicole Lee
Weight Lifting Accessory | Football Strength Workout | Weight Lifting Belts | Mike Geary
Bench Press | Fitness Links | How To Gain Weight Fast | Strength Blog | Build Muscle Fast | Workout Reviews | Workout Videos
Weight Lifting & Weight Training Tips For Building Muscle Strength
 
Fitness Models | Strongman | Muscle Building Nutrition | Muscle Growth | Muscle Building Experts

Supplements: Testosterone Booster | Super Fat Burner | Beta Alanine | Creatine Caps | Nitric Oxide NO2 | Muscle Building Supplements | Post Workout Supplement

Articles: Bench Press Tips | Supplement Reviews | Muscular Strength | Bodybuilding Nutrition | Fitness Health | Muscle Building
Fat Loss Tips