What Should We Be Worried About? Health and Fitness Reality Check

My statement for this topic is lifting weights before adulthood stunts your growth.

Before I Research:

I think that this is true because I have always heard about this and it seems to make sense when you think about it.

After I Researched:

After I did some research, I learned that lifting weights does not affect child growth.  However, just like soccer or other sports, if you get hit numerous times on your ankles, etc., or in weightlifting, dropping the weights on yourself, it could cause growth problems.  Evidence that proves that lifting weights before adulthood doesn't affect growth are bodybuilders, who at the London 2012 Olympics, had an average height of 185.5 cm, ( about 6 feet.)  This myth that lifting weights affects growth are from the fact that children have parts on the end of their bones called growth plates.  These plates are responsible for the growth of children, and there is no evidence clearly linking lifting weights to stunting growth.  As long as the weights are not dropped onto these growth plates, there is no evidence suggesting growth stunting.  Also, if a child plays sports as well, such as soccer, lifting weights could actually be beneficial.  It could help improve in game play, etc.

After Investigating What do you Reason to be the Truth?

After researching this topic, I have changed my outlook towards this topic.  Now, I think that lifting weights before adulthood, does not stunt growth, but instead promotes children to play better in sports, etc.

References:

• http://www.livestrong.com/article/430166-can-lifting-weights-when-young-stunt-your-growth/
• http://stronglifts.com/does-weight-lifting-stunt-growth/
• http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwfitness/article/ASK-A-TRAINER-Will-Lifting-Weights-Stunt-a-Childs-Growth-20130523-page2#.U3VaovldU2A