I'm 14 years old, will weight lifting (benching,squatting, etc.) stunt my growth?  I am only 5'8?
402422
There is no evidence that weight training will stunt growth.  The theories suggest that heavy weight bearing exercises affect the growth plates of bone, but all are just that...theories and belief and not based on any scientific findings.\n\nStrength training improves the bone mass density of children and teens such as yourself. By exercising at your age, you are giving your bones a head start in the fight against osteoporosis and many other diseases. \n\nScientific findings have clearly established that weight training has a postive effect on bone health, and those who indicate otherwise are only supporting myths.\n\nMy best advice to you is to not overdo it.  Take it easy on the squatting and benching as you do not want an injury that is irreversible or hamper your training ability for life.  Until your body is mature (16+) stay away from power movements (less than 6 reps) and stick to enhancing your strength (8-12 reps) and endurance (15+ reps).  You will then build a solid foundation for technique which you can then advance with power movements later.\n\nhttp://preventdisease.com/news/articles/strength_training_children_and_adolescents.shtml
434970
Absolutely not!\n\nMen keep growing until about the age of 21.  Avoid smoking because that stunts your growth, eat well and be positive!  There are always shoe lifts!!!!
860371
yes. sometimes, when you lift too much, with poor technique, it can effect your spine, and effect how tall or short you ultimately are.
1078818
Well, this probably isn't the answer you want to hear, but you're boned, no pun intended.\n\nThe thing is, you may continue to grow a little taller, but in all likelihood the growth plates on the ends of your bones have already calcified and permanently fused themselves in position, setting your skeleton in its final form (it usually happens by the time you're 18).\n\nOnce that happens, you simply cannot increase your bone size any more.  Not ever.\n\nIt's not even a matter of taking supplements to encourage growth, or taking drugs to encourage growth.  The part of your body which does the growing is no longer there once your bones decide they're done.  There's nothing for the drugs to have an effect on.\n\nThere are some surgeries which you might be able to do where, in essence, a doctor saws the legs in your bones in half, and pins the two pieces in place an inch or two apart so when they heal, they fill in new bone in the gap (leaving you that much taller), but that's seriously traumatic, takes months to heal, leaves awful scars, and isn't an option most people would go for.\n\nBottom line is, this may just be how tall you were meant to be... but like other posters have said, a lot of people find girls your size very attractive, so relax and feel beautiful just like you are, because chances are someone else will feel that way, too.
422915
If you're growth spurt is over (you're an adult), you're out of luck.  Even if you dosed way up on the hormones needed to make the bones grow, the plates of the bones have fused and cannot grow anymore. \n\nIf you ARE still growing, be sure to eat right (plenty of protein and calcium, especially!), exercise (being healthier can help you grow better), and don't overwork the hard resistance training - pumping muscle can actually shorten it.    Get plenty of sleep because that's when you do most of your growning.  If none of this works - see your doctor - there are injections he/she can give you that will help normalize your growth.
937718
well if you want to gain weight, weight lifting will make your body more tone, but it wont make you look bigger.
1078559
You may be a little under but i't dosen't really matter if your doctors say your healthy and maybe you just didn't get yor grouth spurt yet,most boys don't get theres until 14or15 so don't sweat it you'll be fine and if that doesn't work they have stuff you can take if you go to the doctors to help you gain weight. Besides if your just built small theres nothing wrong with that cuz i'm 16 i'm 5'1 and i only weigh 95 pounds
642106
Weight training increases bone density.It in no way ,shape or form decreases bone growth.It's normal to go through growth spurts but they don't come at regular intervals.You'll continue to grow until your about 21.
454475
Just eat healthy and drink a lot of water and Vitamin D milk for strong bones. Don't worry, you will grow eventually. A lot of boys take longer to grow tall and strong. Even basketball players that are well known today took long to grow. Some were 5'0 tall and all of a sudden they grew so tall in a few months or years. Just be patient and stop strssing over it. You will grow, that's human nature.  If you had a problem your doctor would have told you that already. You're fine, you don't have to look like anyone else but yourself :)
262779
Stand up straight that'll give you 2-3 inches over the slouchers.  Stretching is also good to decompress the spine.\n\nIf you are still growing, then be sure to eat enough and get all your nutrients, a multivitamin will help with that.  Well, you should do that if you aren't still growing, but it won't help you get taller.=D\n\nAlso, exercise, including weightlifting, to build bone strength.
473624
I think it does....I started martial arts and being athletic when I was 10. I'm now 5'6 but I'm the shortest in my entire family!! My brother is 6'6....\n\nHowever the answer is No. There are many athletes and bodybuilders who are tall yet started lifting in their teens (for example, Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson, Karl Malone, Michael Vick, Dave Draper and Arnold Schwarzenegger). Weightlifting being a growth stunter is a myth.\n\nThat is absolutely false. It is a complete myth that weightlifting stunts growth.\n\nRunning and jumping alone puts a force more than 5 times a person's weight on one legs. If a man is 200 lbs, he'd have to be squatting more than 1,000 lbs in order to be putting more stress on his legs than regular running or jumping would do. If running or jumping doesn't stunt your growth, neither will doing squats.\n\nWorking out and lifting weights should not affect your reaching your potential genetic height
610771
No! You should gain about 15 pounds. You're much too thin for your height.
293487
You have fair enough chance to gain height.\nSkipping & Cycling can help you. \nWhile you go for Cycling, you must ride a cycle with a height that you can't touch it's paddles at ease. \nTry any of these two, for 30-60 minuts a day, for about Six months.\nSee it's amazing outcome.
1141062
Your bones are almost done growing but you have plenty of time to add natural muscle.  You will bulk up naturally as you get older...much like Clemens has.  Try extra squat concentration to add strength in your lower body.  Adding lower body strength will give you a great foundation to work from.  You might notice a lot of big leaguers don't have huge arms.  Also work on flexibility in your upper body.  If you can increase your range of motion it will allow you to produce more inertia...which will produce more velocity.  Most of all you have plenty of time to develop...don't force yourself into thinking you're done growing...and for crying out loud stay away from the juice.  Good luck with the heater.
322952
if you're in your teens or early 20s, there are dietary supplements that claim they can help you grow. My son has been taking http://www.heightmax.com/index.htm... for a couple months and he has grown after being 5' 5" for well over a year. Whether or not he would have started growing again at this point in time (he's about to turn 15) no one can say; but it's mostly vitamins and he's had no side effects, so we'll keep using it.
104649
You'll only 14, give your body some time to grow still. Even if you stay that short, think of the benefits, you don't have to find pants that are long enough. (I'm 5'10", and my legs are super long, i can never find pants that are long enough) But there are benefits to being short.
355516
Nope. It's a myth. In fact, regular exercise during one's growing years actually promotes the production of growth hormones. Height is predominantly decided by your genes. Pullups are the best bet to do what little you can to increase your height. Or if thats too difficult, simply hang from a bar.