The health and fitness benefits of youth resistance training are well established. In addition to increasing muscular fitness and fundamental movement skills, resistance training can increase bone mineral density, improve cardiometabolic health, facilitate weight control and reduce sport-injury risk. The WHO recommends that children and adolescents participate in strength-building activities at least 3 days per week.3 Despite the established benefits and WHO recommendations, participation in youth resistance training is falling short of expectations. A mere 4.8% of Colombian adolescents and 19.4% of European adolescents self-reported sufficient participation in muscle-strengthening activities.
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