Dec 9, 2008 7:47 am US/Eastern
HealthWatch: Weightlifting For Children
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It's part of many adult's exercise program. Weightlifting builds muscle, burns calories, and increases bone density, which wards off osteoporosis. It has a number of other health and psychological benefits as well.
"They include improvements in insulin sensitivity, improved blood pressure. It improves other health markers like cholesterol. It also improves metabolic rate. I also mentioned mood, it improves sleep, concentration, and perhaps maybe the most important is self-confidence and self-esteem," said strength trainer Fred Hahn.
So why is weightlifting controversial for kids? Dr. Robert Gotlin from Beth Israel Medical Center explains.
"It would stunt their growth. It would hurt their growth plates. It would make them not grow properly. That is 100 percent incorrect. Children can and should lift weights," Gotlin said.
The key is it has to be done correctly.
"Correct mechanics, correct form, if done properly it can be a terrific, wonderful tool for any child age seven or above," Gotlin said.
Hahn has written a book describing the why's and how's of safe weight training for kids. And he practices what he preaches with his 9-year-old daughter Georgia, who's felt the benefits.
"Well, I used to be really slow, and then I started doing this and I got faster," Georgia said.
Marc Balakhovsky, 11, and his 13-year-old sister Katyia have been weight training for over a year. Their mother Veronika, who also lifts weights, said she's seen the benefits in her children.
"They sleep better, they're stronger in their sports," she said.
Marc and Katyia follow the slow and safe technique in Hahn's book. Marc plays hockey while Katyia figure skates and swims.
"Well in hockey I started skating faster and shooting stronger, stuff like that," Marc said.
"I could jump higher and I started doing some more difficult jumps and I could start spinning. And then in swimming my time improved a lot," Katyia said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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