For many years the media-fuelled obsession of many teenagers, mostly females, about being slim has been a concern to parents and teen authorities alike. The images portrayed in magazines, movies and music videos are unobtainable by most people, but cause teens to be dissatisfied with their body image and to utilize drastic measures in an attempt to look like their idols. The result has been a dramatic increase among teens in recent years in eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.
Lately a new body image concern has developed. A study published in the August 2005 issue of Pediatrics found that nearly a third of adolescent, and even more frightening, pre-adolescent boys and girls, frequently think about becoming more toned and muscular. The latest trend in body styles appears to be this muscular look as exemplified by such attractive stars as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Thus, while boys are not as obsessed with weight loss as girls, they are even more vulnerable to this newer form of body dissatisfaction. This look is even more difficult for adolescents to obtain than is a slim appearance as it requires not only the lifting of weights, but many years to develop. Teens are not generally known for their patience and therefore tend to look for shortcuts to the toned look.
These shortcuts tend to include such over-the-counter products as creatine, protein supplements, and amino acid formulations, which are often sold at gyms, and even more dangerous products such as growth hormones, anabolic steroids and injectible steroids, which are purchased illegally. The effects of the over-the-counter products and the proper dosages to use are not well known, opening the door to possible body damage from continued use. The dangers of steroid use are well known, however, and the list of both physical and psychological effects they can cause is thoroughly documented. This list includes high blood pressure and heart disease, liver damage, cancers, strokes and blood clots, ‘roid rage’, severe mood swings and paranoia. Despite some adverse publicity from former football players, and the negative publicity about baseball players such as Rafael Palmeiro, teenagers continue to look for shortcuts to the toned and buff look that is becoming increasingly popular.
Even weight lifting itself can be dangerous to young adolescents. Experts say that properly supervised training using light weights in a controlled manner does not pose a danger to youngsters. But lifting weights that are too heavy in a jerky motion does pose “a significant risk of injury” for teens, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. A visit to any local gym will show that the majority of the impatient teens are doing exactly this in order to bulk up as quickly as possible. An injury isn’t the only risk your child faces in bodybuilding. Lifting weights puts pressure against bones, which helps adults build bone density but can inhibit bone growth in a maturing teenager.
These dangers can all be prevented through proper parental monitoring of teenagers who want to develop this toned look. When parents become aware of their teenagers desires in this regard they should first inform themselves of the various dangers involved in weightlifting, then inform the teens themselves. This should be followed by a visit to the local gym to determine the availability of proper instruction. Finally the parent should accompany the teen, set up an instructional program, and then monitor this program to ensure that the teenager is not trying to develop too quickly.
The sport of weightlifting, if done properly can be extremely enjoyable and beneficial to young teens, but only if done properly. In fact it can become part of a lifelong fitness program. However, it needs to be instructed and supervised if injuries and chronic physical problems are to be avoided and parents need to take the responsibility to see that this happens.