It’s estimated that about 20% of children between the ages of 19 and 5 are obese in America; teenagers are considered especially at risk of obesity. Part of the reason for this is a speculated decline in activity in teenagers’ lives. But food choices and diets with increasing salt, sugar and carbohydrate content; not to mention overly processed foods that are lacking adequate nutritional value, can also be blamed. This combination of increased inactivity and decreased quality nutrition has potent and harmful effects on children.
But it’s not too late to do something about it. I remember some adult telling me, when I was 12, that weight training would stunt my growth. This was obviously an illogical statement and I rightly ignored it. The caveat is: strength training, not weightlifting (or bodybuilding) is beneficial and recommend for kids and teens.
Benefits of strength training for a teen:
· Increases teen’s muscle strength and endurance
· Protects your teen’s muscles and joints from injury
· Improves performance in sports and activities (including their schoolwork!)
· Strengthens your teen’s bones
· Regulates optimal blood pressure and cholesterol
· Promotes a healthy metabolism
· Helps teen’s keep a healthy body weight
· Improves teen’s self-esteem—they’ll feel stronger, capable, more coordinated and be proud of their healthy appearance
This class is specially designed for teenagers to promote the health benefits listed above. It’s motivated by the belief that activity is essential for healthy teenagers: keeping our teen’s active is an investment in their future.
Workouts are structured around light-weight and body-weight exercises programmed in a fun, engaging circuit. Instruction is important, and teens will be taught the proper form and technique for each exercise they do; this helps them build a solid foundation for future exercise that is beneficial and injury-free.
Reference: ‘Strength Training: OK for kids?’ Mayo Clinic. Jan. 9, 2010. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/strength-training/HQ01010/METHOD=print
