Can weight lifting stunt my growth?

Yes it most definitely can!

Hi, I am a sporty guy, very into the gym and keen. When I was younger at the age of 13/14 I started using my brother's weights at home. Since around the age of 14 I am fairly sure I have not grown and remain at a modest 5 foot 8 inches. Without weight training I am sure I would have grown to at least 6 foot.

It is scientifically proven that weight training at a young age damages growth plates. This in turn can hinder or stunt your natural growth with a high intensity of training. If you tried to get into a gym aged 14 they wouldn't let you, you have to be aged 16 or over. This is because the gym are covering themselves legally. If they let anyone in below the age of 16 they could get sued for stunting their growth.

My advice to anyone is stay off the weights completely until you are 16 and then you can hit them as hard as you want. Don't risk stunting your natural growth, that is a big mistake. Weight training at the age of 18 is fine.
 
gym-addict-123 said:
Hi, I am a sporty guy, very into the gym and keen. When I was younger at the age of 13/14 I started using my brother's weights at home. Since around the age of 14 I am fairly sure I have not grown and remain at a modest 5 foot 8 inches. Without weight training I am sure I would have grown to at least 6 foot.

It is scientifically proven that weight training at a young age damages growth plates. This in turn can hinder or stunt your natural growth with a high intensity of training. If you tried to get into a gym aged 14 they wouldn't let you, you have to be aged 16 or over. This is because the gym are covering themselves legally. If they let anyone in below the age of 16 they could get sued for stunting their growth.

My advice to anyone is stay off the weights completely until you are 16 and then you can hit them as hard as you want. Don't risk stunting your natural growth, that is a big mistake. Weight training at the age of 18 is fine.
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You make claims with no proof. If you say something is scientifically proven you need to provide a reference to that proof.

Also, how do you know you would have gotten taller? I'm sorry, but you can't know that.
 
Adumb said:
There's a reason why I see a lot of short flexed guys at the gym.
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I thought its because little guys are more likely to work out a lot to compensate for their short stature due to an increased tendency to inferiority complexes? Being short made them work out rather than working out making them short?

PS. Re-reading this I thought short guys might get offended by this statement, so I thought I'd add, I'm not saying all short guys have complexes or anything against short guys at all. Just saying statistically. You know. Since we're discussing it.

Short guys rock?
 
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I read a source a while back that there is greater pressure applied on the structure whilst running and jumping, opposed to say squatting and other lifting.

If that was to be true then there's noway lifting could stunt growth IMO.
 
I find this bump rather funny, because it seems like everyone had come to an agreement (a year and a half ago) that lifting smartly has enormous benefits for growth. It has been scientifically proven that lifting very stupidly can be damaging, but that's in extreme cases, and by that I mean heavy heavy lifting with poor form, high frequencies, no rest, high intensity plyometrics, and horrible diets.
 
I guess Dave Draper, Shaquille O'Neal and Arnold Schwartzneggar should all have been much, much taller.

FYI, Lou Ferrigno started working out at 14 years old at the height of 5'9" and grew to 6'5".

Lifting weights does not compromise height. It is a myth that is perpetuated by those who don't know any better.
 
Why would lifting weights stunt your growth? That's like saying any kid who does difficult physical labor (farm boys anyone?) or is very physically active (athletes) would have stunted growth. If you've seen the average farm boy, you would know it's a total myth.
 
Weight training does not stunt your kid's growth. should be trending on Twitter!

Niether do heavy squats or leg press machines, no more than playing with yourself makes you go blind!
It's an old mother's tale that for some reason even gets spread by health professionals!

There is risk associated with HEAVY loads and immature tendons and growth plates but most kids will not reach those loads until they can handle them and the risk is of sudden injury or stress fractures and tendonitis, NOT stunted growth!

Your height is genetic, blame your parents. Even if they are taller than you, should have asked for a different sperm, sorry.

Haha, why are weightlifters short then? Well not all of them are but being short gives you short levers and can help you with olympic lifts! Being short made them good lifters. Lifting however did not make them short!

Get on the wieghts kids! (sensibly and with proper instruction, if in doubt, see your doctor, if he says it will stunt your growth... get a new doctor)

I encourage moderate strength training for boys and girls at my school. Please notice I used the words moderate and strength, not heavy and weight! It's great if they learn good habits young whilst they have fewer injuries and good range of motion. And enthusiasm for taking good advice! All things adults lack.
 
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