Is weight training for teens healthy?

Introduction

Weight training, also known as resistance training, has been a topic of interest in the context of adolescent health. This synthesis aims to evaluate whether weight training is healthy for teens by analyzing data from multiple research studies.

Key Insights

Reduction in Body Fat and Waist Circumference:
- Resistance training significantly reduces body fat and waist circumference in overweight and obese adolescents .
- Combined aerobic and resistance training may lead to greater reductions in body fat compared to aerobic or resistance training alone, especially with high adherence.
Improvement in Muscular Fitness and Strength:
- Resistance training improves muscular fitness, including strength and endurance, in adolescents .
- Programs like CrossFit Teens™ have shown significant improvements in muscular fitness and skill competency.
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health:
- Resistance training enhances cardiovascular fitness and can improve metabolic health markers, although the effects on blood lipid profiles and blood pressure are less consistent .
- Exercise training, including resistance training, improves vascular endothelial function, which is crucial for reducing future cardiovascular risk.
Psychological and Quality of Life Benefits:
- Resistance training, alone or combined with aerobic training, improves health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adolescents, including physical, social, and school functioning.
- Adolescents participating in structured resistance training programs report high satisfaction and adherence rates, indicating positive psychological outcomes.
Safety and Feasibility:
- When supervised and following appropriate guidelines, resistance training is safe and effective for adolescents.
- Programs designed for teens, such as the Forever-Fit Summer Camp, demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of incorporating resistance training into broader lifestyle interventions.

Conclusion

Weight training is healthy for teens when properly supervised and integrated into a balanced exercise regimen. It effectively reduces body fat, improves muscular and cardiovascular fitness, and enhances overall quality of life. Structured and well-supervised programs ensure safety and maximize the benefits of resistance training for adolescents.

Is weight training for teens healthy?

Summary

Consensus Meter

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Healthy Eating, Aerobic and Resistance Training in Youth (HEARTY): study rationale, design and methods.

Resistance training combined with aerobic training effectively reduces body fat and cardiometabolic risk markers in overweight and obese adolescents.

Effects of aerobic training, resistance training, or both on percentage body fat and cardiometabolic risk markers in obese adolescents: the healthy eating aerobic and resistance training in youth randomized clinical trial.

Combined aerobic and resistance training effectively reduces body fat percentage in obese adolescents, but not in those who only do aerobic training.

Improving health-related fitness in adolescents: the CrossFit Teens™ randomised controlled trial

CrossFit TeensTM is a feasible and effective program for improving health-related fitness in adolescents, with 82.3% retention and high satisfaction scores.

Strength Training for Overweight Teenagers

Strength training can be a safe, effective, and enjoyable method of exercise for overweight teenagers when followed by qualified supervision and appropriate training guidelines.

Promotion of healthy weight-control practices in young athletes. American Academy of Pediatrics. Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness.

Healthy weight control practices, including strategies for weight loss and weight gain, are crucial for young athletes in various sports.

Exercise Training in Obese Children and Adolescents

Exercise training in obese children and adolescents improves cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength, but has little effect on blood lipid profile or blood pressure.

Effects of aerobic or resistance training or both on health-related quality of life in youth with obesity: the HEARTY Trial.

Combined aerobic and resistance training improves health-related quality of life in adolescents with obesity, particularly in physical and social aspects.

Forever-Fit Summer Camp: The Impact of a 6-Week Summer Healthy Lifestyle Day Camp on Anthropometric, Cardiovascular, and Physical Fitness Measures in Youth With Obesity

The Forever-Fit Summer Camp effectively improves BMI, cardiovascular, and physical fitness in youth with obesity in the short term.

AAP Reports on Healthy Weight-Control Practices in Young Athletes

The AAP recommends that young athletes maintain a healthy weight, focusing on exercise, nutrition, and avoiding weight-related issues.

Body weight correction of adolescent girls by health fitness tools

EMS training effectively corrects body weight in adolescent girls by simultaneously training all muscle groups during physical exercises, making it a popular and effective fitness program.

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