I have a nephew who's around 17 and wants to start body building, or lifting. His parents are afraid that weight lifting will stunt his growth (height), and they'd argue that it is a fact. Is that a myth or fact? Is there some scientific evidence to suggest that body building will stunt growth in teenagers?

 

Myth

http://bodybuilding.about.com/b/a/013562.htm

 

I started very early. In the late 70's and 80's my dad worked his way up to that crossroads where you either start traveling and doing regional & national shows or you become a personal trainer. W/2 kids and a wife he chose the latter.

At age 13 I was in the gym w/dad 2 hours per day 6 days a week. My pop pushed me very hard. His gym-rat buddies pushed me even harder and I tore my right cuff on the incline at 17. Surgery & 6mos off was the rest my body needed and I came back with a vengance. At 22 I hit the aforementioned crossroads and took the 3rd path....demoted myself from GymRat status and focused on college and career.

My dad is 5'11 and I'm 6'2. It's all about genetics.
It won't stunt your growth.

 

myth.

 

ive been working out since i was 13 due to karate...im 5'2'' lol...

it is a myth though, your body is going to grow to its potential no matter what. nothing stunts growth really, it just delays it...

 

I thought it was a myth too, but always wanted to confirm it with doctors who actually know. Btw, I'm not talking about my body, cuz I've stopped growing a long time ago.

 

agree with the above posts.

 

i think it can potentially stunt your growth. if you are growing and working out at the same time, proper and adequate diet and nutrition is probably more essential than for full grown adults. if you do not have the adequate building blocks in your body for both growth and repair, your body will have to choose between the two, and most likely, your body will divert its energy and building blocks to repair damaged body tissue before it will resort them for growth.

 

Myth.

Look at all the tall bodybuilders in the world. They all started young, and NOT everyone was on steroids.

Actually, bodybuilder (resistance training) is supposed to promote bone development.

Truth about the nutrition comment above, but most average Americans get adequate kcal and protein (a.a.) in their diet, so I wouldn't worry too much about that, esp. if they are 17 years old.

 

There is a difference between body building and exercise. I started playing football at the age of 9. I was told not to lift until around 13-14. Its really in the younger years that it's not encouraged. I don't know if it will stunt the growth but a 8 or 9 year old won't get much out of it.

17 is plenty old. I started around 13. (off and on through the years.)

5'10" by the way.