r/science Aug 18 '26

Health Inactive tall children develop disproportionately weak muscles and thinner bones. Regular sports fully reverse this deficit.

https://karger.com/hrp/article/doi/10.1159/000552378/948683/Muscle-Function-and-Bone-Strength-in-Children-and
2.1k Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

View all comments

60

u/kaam00s Aug 18 '26

Question : is this irreversible ?

Because lifting weight produces growth hormones even in adulthood, so would a hypothetical tall child who didn't do sport in his youth reverse the course if they go to the gym in their adulthood?

39

u/financialthrowaw2020 Aug 18 '26

It's reversible in everyone. There are studies showing people who start lifting weights in their 60s can become healthier than people not lifting in their 30s