your initial reaction and, then (more productively), the result of actually thinking about it

[Sabinae]

I know the human body and its abilities are stunning and beyond our comprehension, even in modern society....So...okay, I'll say it: this is amazing! BUT:
-the excessive exercise is improper for the child's age, and it might lead to later on damage on development patterns of the body
-also, the child needs to have education....and friends...and a childhood. I know great things are made with great sacrifices, but I would love for the boy to be able to choose for himself, because now, it is just his parents setting him on "that" path in life...

[Manifest Destiny]

It's exactly what I was thinking. I used the term "questionable" as sarcasm. And good to see I,m not the only one who thought of the potentially very serious damage this could do to the kid.

That's how I feel about it.

I played baseball for years as a child and I remember my father and coaches going apeshit when I threw a curveball (I was a pitcher) because it could have caused damage to my arm as a growing boy. I can only imagine what sort of damage actual weight training could be causing. It's a good idea for children to get exercise and stay in good shape, but I think this is a bit extreme.

[lei.talk]

Originally Posted by Laurentian
...what are the effects on young growing bodies to put on so much muscle weight. I know it's something you want to avoid in other mammals as it puts strain on the bones and articulations which are still in formation...

Monolith
There's no way on Earth this kind of physical activity won't cause serious damage to this kid.

AlabamaMan
Lifting weights at 5 years old is a good way to seriously damage your growth plates.

these opinions are substantiated
by which scientific studies/statistical correlations/physiological facts?
*

[Monolith]

these opinions are substantiated
by which scientific studies/statistical correlations/physiological facts?

Common sense maybe? Aside from that, I remember my physician and coach telling me not to go to gym until I'm at least 17, in order to avoid potential damage to my (still developing) muscular and skeletal systems.

[Jamt]

The reason that the latest generations are taller must be because the lack of hard physical labor at a young age, diet can’t be it, as if that is better nowadays. The older generations were stronger than mine but not as tall. Maybe men are not meant to be this tall as so many nowadays are complaining of back problems. And speaking of the twenty-something who were raised on video games and internet filth, they cannot even stand up straight. A lot of them don’t deserve to live in my opinion.

[Falkata]

The reason that the latest generations are taller must be because the lack of hard physical labor at a young age, diet can’t be it, as if that is better nowadays.

It´s basically better diet and better healthcare, nothing to do with more or less physical labor. Peasants should be much shorter than traders for example.
My family (parents,uncles...) didnt do physical labor when they were kids and the new generations (me, my cousins..) are way taller than them, about 10 cm on average.

[The Black Prince]

There are many external factors involved with the growing patterns of teenagers but the most important is the internal factor, a person his genetic material. Because the genes determine how teenagers their body react upon those external factors.

The reason that the latest generations are taller must be because the lack of hard physical labor at a young age, diet can’t be it, as if that is better nowadays. The older generations were stronger than mine but not as tall.

Yes I think this is the main reason for the stature spurt of the last 100 years(*):
My male ancestors have most of the time been dairy farmers, for the last 3 generations the males their stature was always around the 175cm (resp. 178cm, 173cm, 177cm).
However their diet was the same as I have had in my younger years, nothing less or more. That is milk and white bread with bacon&eggs in the morning. Potatoes with vegetables and meat (every day meat) in the midday. And in the evening as much white bread with butter and other stuff on it as they could handle. Next to this as much coffee and fruit and cookies as was available.

But there is one difference, they all started do hard physical labour at 10 years old (milking cows, haying, etc..) whereass I started at the age of 14 with this. I grew out to 184cm. Most cousins of mine - who didn't grew up on the farm- never did hard work but did fanatical sporting instead, their stature is similar (182-190cm). Some cousins of mine never sported much (not fanatically) and of them, while some are smaller as us (177,179cm), most are much taller (N=6 >190cm).

Maybe men are not meant to be this tall as so many nowadays are complaining of back problems. And speaking of the twenty-something who were raised on video games and internet filth, they cannot even stand up straight.A lot of them don’t deserve to live in my opinion.

Hehe, (though I think sometimes the same), they can't really help it that they are just a bunch of spoiled and lazy youths. What they needed was more discipline from their parents in their youth I guess...

(*) With this I mean the stature spurt in the middle-classes (shopkeepers, specialists, famers) and elite-classes (nobility, big farmers, high class citizens) of the population. The stature spurt in the lower classes (factory workers, rural workers, dirt farmers) has been much bigger in the past 100 years, next to less physical work on a young age also a better and otherwise improved diet will be here of great importance.

[Jarl]

Poor little fellow. 6 years and a 6-pack... What for? Are they making a racing horse out of him??? Sounds like daddy did not entirely get the correct meaning of fatherhood.

[arted1]

I think the child is remarkable. However, I agree that he should only be using his body weight until he is older. Flips and tumbles were amazing.

[lei.talk]

Rhett Butler Sounds like daddy did not entirely get the correct meaning of fatherhood.

Originally Posted at Blut und Boden
children are our most precious creation

and require the ultimate
in desire, knowledge, resources,
time and attentiveness.

again, as with my (now grown) son,
the product
is far more valuable
than the investment.

it is tragic
that so many children are born

to persons possessing
neither the desire,
knowledge, resources or time
to be a parent.

actually - yes - my son is a well-bred and -trained thoroughbred.

his mother was care-fully selected
to enhance my qualities
and (except for the swarthiness) looked like this,
when she was fourteen and continued to improved.

she and i and her girl-friend
did all we could to encourage the full expression
of his genetic potential.

(again - except for the swarthiness) by the end of his sixteenth year,
our son was as muscular as the young man seen here:

the master SüüT and Dr.Who can confirm
the physique displays no signs of steroid-use:
extra-ordinary muscle-size, body-acne, unnatural pilosity,
blood-pressure induced vascularity, stretch-marks...

only the muscle-size and -definition
possible to a healthy sixteen-year-old
that has been care-fully exercised,
optimally nourished and well-rested.

why produce a child, if,
one is not going to nurture
and cultivate it to full potential?

*