• Question: Does wieght lifting stunt your growth?

    Asked by daleawh to Helen, Jenni, Mark, Martin, Stu on 21 Jun 2011.
    • Photo: Jenni Tilley

      Jenni Tilley answered on 20 Jun 2011:

      Because your body grows in response to external forces and deformations, excess exercise while you’re still growing changes the shape of your body. A brilliant example of this is swimmers who tend to have MASSIVE shoulders do to all the training they did when they were younger.

      I’m not entirely sure about current advice on weight lifting when you’re still growing, but I’m sure your local gym could give you some good advice.

    • Photo: Stuart Mourton

      Stuart Mourton answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Yeh, as Jenni says, trianing while you are still growing effects your development, weight lifting while your body structure is still developing isn’t a great idea, and needs to be done very carefully. A qualified fitness instructor can tell you more.

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