Q: My son is 12 years old and has friends that are already starting to lift weights. At what age is it appropriate for children to start a weight lifting routine? Are there risks of stunting his growth?
A: This question is frequently debated every year in many health and fitness conferences across America. The good thing is that this also provides an impetus for quality research on this exact topic. Current findings suggest that weight-bearing and resistive-weight exercises as early as the age of 8 can increase bone density rates later in life (10 years after) and help prevent osteoporosis.