But non athletes could benefit most. With obesity on the rise, experts say weight training is a way to motivate heavier kids who are less at ease on the playing field (and targets in dodgeball). Wayne Wescott, research director at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Mass., says that strength training favors larger kids “and gives them a much-needed sense of physical accomplishment.”
Experts say weight training shouldn’t take the place of cardio-vascular activities; the American College of Sports Medicine suggests lifting no more than three nonconsecutive days a week. Overdoing it can injure growth plates and cause muscle sprains. Ellen Vita, a school fitness-center coordinator, says: “When they’re younger, they really have to be watched. They get macho.”
