Does lifting weights stunt growth at 15

Coach Steve,

What is your recommendation for when teenagers can start lifting weights?

How much can a 10-year old lift in kg

I began at 14 and recently got my daughter (14) involved. What are the benefits and drawbacks?

Thanks, H.K.

The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, as long as you use good form and keep it light

Dear H.K.,

There has been a prevailing sentiment that lifting weights isn’t good for a young body until the teenage years.

There is some truth to that statement but let’s make a key distinction between strength training and weight training.

It’s a widely held belief among medical experts that moderate strength training is fine, and even beneficial, to boys and girls starting at ages as young as 6 or 7.

Some benefits: Looking and feeling healthier, maintaining a healthy weight and building the mental and physical discipline to play on a competitive team later on in their youth.

When I say strength training, I mean doing body-weight exercises (push-ups, planks, sit-ups, pull-ups) and lifting light levels

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