• Question: What age do you think a human should start developing their muscles at the gym.

    Asked by miniryanxx to Daniela, Hannah, Ian, Jono, Mark on 15 Jun 2013.
    • Photo: Ian Wilson

      Ian Wilson answered on 15 Jun 2013:

      Hi miniryanxx,

      That’s a difficult one because there’s no right answer really. You’re never too young and you’re never too old! I go to the gym a little bit, but mostly to play football, so I don’t have big muscles, but I’m happy with that. Other people like to spend hours in the gym to get really big! It really is a personal choice, so I’d say people should go to the gym whenever they feel that they want to and they want to get fitter and stronger.

      Hope that helps!

      Ian

    • Photo: Jono Bone

      Jono Bone answered on 16 Jun 2013:

      Hi miniryanxx,

      Great question!
      Weight lifting puts a lot of stress on your bones as well as your muscles. Growth plates are areas found on the bones of young people and is where the bones grow. When young people finish growing, the growth plates close and are replaced by solid bone. Lifting too heavy weight at young ages can cause crooked or misshapen bones or limbs that are too short, due to compression of these growth plates. Injuries of growth plates are common in boys all the way to age 16, so you have to be very careful until then not to lift to heavy weights and should the advice from a professional personal trainer for advice on what is safe.

    • Photo: Daniela Plana

      Daniela Plana answered on 16 Jun 2013:

      Hi!
      I think that you should exercise and try to keep fit/healthy at all ages, but what kind of things you do depend on each person and sometimes on your age. It is not a good idea to overdo some things, such as weight lifting, when you are still growing!
      Hope that helps,
      Daniela

    • Photo: Mark Hodson

      Mark Hodson answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Hi miniryanxx,

      there is no right or wrong answer to this. My 7 year old is keen to go to the gym as he things rowing machines are fun but personally I think he’s a bit young. However, getting exercise and staying fit is important for everyone, regardless of their age.

      cheers

      m

    • Photo: Hannah Brotherton

      Hannah Brotherton answered on 17 Jun 2013:

      Hi,
      Your muscles are always developing and growing from the day you are born so moderate exercise all your life is a great way to build muscle. I do know people as young as 10 to go to the gym, but not to pull heavy weights. Just to exercise moderately. Exercising moderately and working against your own weight like doing sit ups and presses is a great way to build muscle naturally without damaging your muscles or tendons.

      Han

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