weightlifting makes you shorter

Question

The claim that weightlifting makes you shorter was quite interesting to me. Doing some research, I found that University Hospitals have this to say.

There is no scientific evidence to prove that weightlifting causes a stunt in growth. It is also important to note that these same researchers recommend not to start weightlifting under the age of 8, in some cases even 12, and not without adult supervision/guidance. This is due to the fact that lifting with improper form or too much weight can cause injury in anyone but particularly an underdeveloped body. This is why University Hospitals do not recommend max strength training until after the body has experienced puberty.

Comments

This fact check is solid, especially where you mention the need for supervision with young weightlifters. One thing to add is that while weightlifting doesn’t stop growth, it can still cause injuries if kids don’t use proper form. That’s actually why experts urge caution for younger lifters. Including an example, like how bad form can lead to injuries in growth, would help make this even clearer

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I appreciate your added info on the importance of supervision in children who want to pursue weightlifting. In addition to just having supervision its import to have the supervision of someone who knows what their doing especially when it comes to weightlifting as it is easy to cause serious injury from minor changes to proper form.

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Weightlifting does not make you shorter or stunt your growth. There is actually a large push right now for you female athletes to begin weight lifting to prevent future injuries. However it is recommended that you don't begin weight lifting until ages 8-12 and it is important to build form before you add on the actual weight. Being shorter however does make it easier to put on muscle mass. A lot of the world's best body builders are shorter, but thats not because of the sport.

Source: https://www.nike.com/a/can-weight-lifting-stunt-growth#

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Though you source from an athletic wear company which may have some motives for wanting more athletes, it is s solidly backed source that refers to medical and governmental organizations.

Answer 1

There is a common misconception that weight training will stunt your growth because the activity will affect a child's growth plates. However, there has been a lot of research to prove that this is false. Although it is still dangerous to let small children lift excess amounts of weight, that is only because the strain is not healthy, nothing to do with their future height. Additionally, weightlifting can prove to be beneficial if done correctly, and not in excess. Even well known brands like Nike have made it a point to disprove this rumor. University and government studies alike also disagree with this theory, their research concluded that there is no effect on growth plates. This claim is false.

https://www.nike.com/a/can-weight-lifting-stunt-growth 

https://sites.utexas.edu/think-twice/2022/03/09/does-weight-training-stunt-growth/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17119361/

Comments

Your response effectively dispels the belief of many that weight training inhibits growth, changing people's perception that it has nothing to do with their stature but rather with the excessive weight involved. You also base these claims on very reputable sources, such as Nike, and studies from universities, and governments. However, certain statements should be rephrased, like "nothing to do with their future height," to avoid confusion or more specific details about those studies should be provided. it's a clear response but needed more evidence and more specific language.

Answer 2

The claim that weight lifting makes you shorter is false. While some people expect that to be true since you are lifting weights that are pulling you down people think it makes sense. The concern is injury from a heavy weight or bad form. It isn't safe at a younger age due to this but nothing harmful will happen if you are safe and keep good form.

Answer 3

The claim that weightlifting can make you shorter is false. While people have come to believe that lifting can cause decompression in the spine, this can only be due to poor form and poor regimen. Weightlifting is often used to elongate and expand muscles. This study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17119361/ from the National Medical Library showed that there was no evidence of a stunt in growth in adolescents who lift.

Answer 4

Weight training does in fact NOT make you shorter. Weight lifting builds stamina and muscle it is overall good for your health. The only downsides are strained muscles and the potential for injury. 

“There is no evidence that high-impact sports like gymnastics, soccer, football, and basketball harm growth plates. The same is true for weight training. “

https://sites.utexas.edu/think-twice/2022/03/09/does-weight-training-stunt-growth/

Answer 5

This claim is completely false. There is no information listed that showcases weightlifting stunting growth or making people shorter. According to the National Library of Medicine, the only cautions people should take are if pre-pubescent children are attempting to lift weights. Children are encouraged to exercise as it grows stronger bones and prevents injuries.

Answer 6

This is a very false claim. People think that weight lifting will stunt your growth because it hurts the growth plates. There is no research to back this claim up. Improper form does lead to injury. That's maybe what you might be thinking. Younger kids tend to have worse form which does lead to injury but with proper form, weight lifting does not injury you.

Answer 7

The claim that weightlifting makes you shorter is false. According to an article by the National Library of Medicine, “Experimental training protocols with weights and resistance machines and with supervision and low instructor/participant ratios are relatively safe and do not negatively impact growth and maturation of pre- and early-pubertal youth.” According to Healthline, there is no scientific evidence behind stunt growth in kids who lift weights. It is stated that people believe weight lifting stunts growth because of the concern of damage to the growth plates if they participate. It is stated that the myth likely stems from this concern about growth plates; however, the myth does not mention that participation in any sport or recreational activity carries the risk of injury. “About 15 to 30 percent of all children's fractures involve the growth plates,” Healthline states. In spite of the plates being susceptible, this does not mean that adolescents should avoid lifting weights, just that they should do it safely. While this research finds that there is a possibility of growth plate injury, this does not directly state that weightlifting stunts growth. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17119361/ 

https://www.healthline.com/health/does-lifting-weights-stunt-growth#Why-do-people-believe-that-lifting-weights-stunts-growth 

Answer 8

The claim that states, "Weightlifting makes you shorter" is a false claim. In many articles such as one created by an author at NIKE, they say that "there's no evidence that weight lifting stunts growth," she said. "In fact, resistance training can help build coordination and strength in young athletes, and there's a strong push right now for young female athletes to lift weights in the hope that it may offer more injury prevention. That being said, there should be a focus on building proper form for this population before adding weight or resistance to their movements." That being said proper form and knowledge of how to lift in the correct way is key to being successful in the gym as well as staying healthy and keeping the risk of injury low. 

https://www.nike.com/a/can-weight-lifting-stunt-growth