Children and weight lifting

Q My 12-year-old son has begun to lift weights regularly, and I'm concerned how this might affect his body. Is he too young to lift weights?

C.V., Chicago

A In this era when more and more people are concentrating on physical fitness, the idea has not been lost on many youngsters. Many of those youngsters, like your son, are fascinated with the idea of lifting weights and the possibility of becoming more fit and muscular.

But fitness experts caution that if youngsters lift weights, they should get proper supervision, perhaps from a trainer who is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. The main concern is that some children might try to lift too much weight and cause a variety of injuries, especially skeletal ones.

If you have questions or comments for this column, send them to Talk To Ebony at www.ebony.com or mail them to HOUSE. CALL, EBONY, 820 S. Michigan Ave,, Chicago, IL 60605. Answers to all questions are checked with a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for individual, professional medical treatment. Because of the volume of mail received, we cannot give personal replies.

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