# weight-training and children's growth

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353 "1999-06-06T23:03:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 1999, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/1 "1999-06-06T23:03:00Z")

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Is there any truth to the common belief that weight-training during childhood or adolescence stunts grwoth?

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 7, 1999, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/2 "1999-06-07T06:34:00Z")

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In my Kinesiology class last year, we were taught that heavy weight training can cause the growth plates to prematurely calcify, thus stunting growth. If you have a youngster wanting to get stronger, stick with low weight/aerobic type activities for now

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 1999, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/3 "1999-06-18T21:09:00Z")

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That sounds like a reasonable theory, but is there any data? I don’t ever remember hearing that overworked children’s growth was stunted by premature calcification. Malnutrition in some instances, but never that.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 1999, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/4 "1999-06-18T21:43:00Z")

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This might explain the way Olympic level  
male gymnasts have relatively short legs compared to the rest of their bodies.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 1999, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/5 "1999-06-20T07:19:00Z")

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I’ll try to get some info for you.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 1999, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weight-training-and-childrens-growth/1353/6 "1999-06-20T18:11:00Z")

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AUT said

> [@](#):
>
> This might explain the way Olympic level  
> male gymnasts have relatively short legs compared to the rest of their bodies.

I dunno. Could it be some sort of ‘self’ selection? You’ll rarely see … um … very buxom female runners. The ‘foundation garment’ industry hasn’t gotten to the point where they can make a sports bra that allows the abundanatly endowed female to run without becoming quite uncomfortable.

## Perhaps long legged men tend to go for the running sports and basketball, while shorter llegged men go for the sports where height isn’t that important, and for that matter, shortness of stature might be a plus?

Ranger Jeff  
The Idol of American Youth

Always drink\* upstream \* from the herd.