We’ve all heard this before: “Don’t lift weights when you are too young, otherwise your growth will be stunted!” Indeed, this is one of the most common concern for young individuals looking to lift weights at the gym, and it is a perfectly understandable one. After all, while you can always gain muscle later in life, the window for growing taller won’t last forever. Naturally we at FitnessFlash are going to inspect this claim. Is it true that resistance training can harm growth? And how young is too young when it comes to resistance training?

1. FitnessFlash.org
A m I t o o Y o u n g

2. Am I too young to build muscle?
1. Does resistance training stunt
growth?
2. Benefits of resistance training
3. Resistance training tips

3. Does resistance training stunt
growth?1

4. Betsy Keller from Ithaca College suggests that the belief regarding
resistance training stunting one’s growth exists because some researchers
focus only on specific groups of athletes. In a 2008 review of the literature,
she suggests that evidence for weightlifting’s negative impact on growth
arises solely from sports that are more well-suited for shorter people, such
as women’s gymnastics and competitive dancing. In fact, Betsy Keller
points out that weightlifting may be more effective than other forms of
exercise in promoting bone growth and density among adolescents.
A 2008 study by Joshua Yarrow from the Veterans Administration Medical
Center further supports the notion that resistance training are actually
beneficial for growth. The study found that testosterone injections increase
both bone length and density, suggesting that weightlifting’s impact on
testosterone may be beneficial for growth.

5. Benefits of resistance training2

6. Strength training is perfectly healthy for young
people, and it provides a number of great
benefits such as:
•Increased strength
•Improved endurance
•Faster metabolism
•Promotes healthy body weight
•Stronger bones
•Improved self-esteem
•Healthier cholesterol levels and blood
pressure

7. Resistance training tips3

8. There are training tips that young individuals
should pay careful attention to. After all, if
you do too much too soon, physical
problems can occur no matter what exercise
you are doing.
•Consult a doctor.
•Get a certified personal trainer.
•Focus on form and technique.
•Do not go too heavy.

9. THANK YOU!