Resistance exercise and strong healthy children: safe when done right!

Weight lifting in children and youth is often viewed as a potentially harmful activity that could result in damage to bones, connective tissue, and muscle. Reviews, such as the one appearing in this issue of the journal by Behm et al. (Appl. Physiol. Metab. Nutr. 33: this issue), show that the balance of evidence indicates that weight lifting in pediatric populations is safe. Importantly, weight lifting, when performed in a safe and age-appropriate manner, is very beneficial on a number of health fronts, including strength and balance, self-esteem, and reducing cardiovascular risks. This is an understudied area that is still lacking in key areas of research to establish efficacy, dose-response relationships, and other health benefits.