– Training is social, and it’s fun to set goals and achieve them, says Temine Johnsen (17) to news. She and her friends Mari Jakobsen (17) are on their way to today’s strength training session at Sats Langnes in Tromsø. Jakobsen enrolled at Sats three years ago, after being influenced by the group of friends. – I discovered that training at the studio was something for me, so I have continued, she says to news, and adds: – It has perhaps become a bit trendy. Mari Jakobsen (17) has trained at Sats for the past three years. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news Increasing trend And that is exactly what surveys support. The youth data survey from 2022, which was carried out among more than 100,000 pupils at secondary and upper secondary schools throughout the country, shows a clear increase in the use of gyms among young people – especially boys. At upper secondary school, 47 per cent of girls and 56 per cent of boys stated that they train weekly at a studio in 2022. This is a marked increase from 2014–2016. Then 42 per cent of the girls and 45 per cent of the boys at secondary school said that they trained weekly at the studio. At the same time, the proportion of people participating in organized sports has fallen, mostly among girls. Although there are more boys than girls who say that they exercise weekly at the studio, surveys on young people’s interests show a slightly different trend. The UNG2024 report from Opinion, which came out this autumn, shows that strength training is among the favorite interests of young people. The trend is greatest among girls. 34 per cent state that they are interested in the form of training, compared to 28 per cent of the boys. Around one in three young people state strength training as a leisure interest. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news Have to turn away children aged 12 Also among the youngest, interest in studio training is increasing. Already in eighth grade, aged 12-14, 18 per cent state that they train at the studio every week. Marianne Rørnes, operations manager in the Feel24 fitness center chain, says that they get questions from parents who want to bring children as young as 10-12 years old for training. Marianne Rørnes, operations manager at Feel24, says that they have to reject children who want to train with them because they are too young. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news – Unfortunately we have to say no. Our rules are that you must be 14 to train with adults and 16 to train alone. The reason they have age limits is because the centers are not always staffed. – But we follow developments and what we can do to offer good training options for more people. – Not mini-adults Svein Arne Pettersen is professor of sports science at UiT – Norway’s Arctic University. He rejects the myth that strength training can inhibit growth in children and young people. – It is probably true that there has been a perception, but there is no support for this in the research, says Pettersen. On the contrary, it is very healthy to do strength training, the researcher believes. Among other things, it is important for bone health, also for the youngest. – But from my point of view, it is pointless for children to enter the strength room. They can carry out strength training in more playful forms. Svein Arne Pettersen, professor of sports science at UiT. Photo: UiT Pettersen points out that there may be a greater risk of injury due to heavy weights and machines that children do not necessarily master. Christine Holm Moseid, researcher at the Center for Sports Injury Research, agrees that it is initially great that children and young people want to exercise. – The big challenge is, on the contrary, that many train and move too little, says Christine Holm Moseid, researcher at the Center for Sports Injury Research. But: – Children are not mini-adults, nor should they train like adults. Christine Holm Moseid, researcher at the Center for Sports Injury Research. Photo: NiH She emphasizes that good guidance and correct knowledge of training are even more important for the youngest, because they are more susceptible to injuries during and after the growth spurt. – There are three things that are particularly important to remember: Technique, knowledge and a good training programme. And then you have to be patient, says Moseid. Social activity Center manager at Sats Tromsø Ida Andrea Nilssen says that they are seeing an increase in young people who want to work out in a gym. – We have many members of high school age, but also younger ones, says Nilssen. At Sats, you must be 15 years old to train alone, but children between 11 and 14 can also train at the center accompanied by a parent. Nilssen says that they see more people taking advantage of that opportunity. She believes young people also use the training to be with friends. – In addition to the center being a hub, it also gives them a common goal. The young people can do something proper together, rather than just hang out, says Nilssen, and adds: – It creates both healthy values and good public health. Ida Andrea Nilssen, center manager at Sats Tromsø, sees more and more young people in training. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news Rørnes in Feel24 confirms that they too see that more and more young people are interested in strength training, especially in the smallest places where there are fewer activity options. – They use it as a supplement to organized sports, but also as an independent activity. She believes one of the reasons is that young people know a lot about what is healthy for them. – And then there is a community. They have friends who train and would like to be a part of it. Inspired by social media Back at Sats på Langnes, Johnsen says that she sees more and more young people at the centre. – It’s probably a bit about social media, how many people post their training routines, she says. Temine Johnsen (17) sees more and more young people at the fitness centre. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news The 17-year-olds think it helps to inspire young people to train strength. – They talk about their goals and how they achieve them, and then you want to get there yourself, says Jakobsen. This means that information about training is now more easily available for young people. – When you start strength training, you don’t quite know what to do, but with social media it has become easier to get started. You can only look at other people’s training programs and be inspired, says the 17-year-old. The 17-year-olds at Sats believe that social media makes it easier for young people to create their own strength training programmes. Photo: Mathias Sommerseth Kjellmo / news Moseid at the Center for Sports Injury Research believes that young people must think through the motivation to engage in exercise. – Exercise makes you feel better, and is good for both body and mind. It’s important to have fun. We also know that strength training is good training both for performance and to prevent injuries, she says. She has borrowed a quote from a colleague, which she believes is worth thinking about: – Do you train for presentation, i.e. to look good, or for performance, i.e. to get better at what you do? – Especially for young people, patience is key – as both body and mind are developing. Therefore, they should not look like, or train like, adults either. She challenges the training centers to ensure that the skills are available to the young people who train there.
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Training centers must reject children under the age of 10 – news Troms and Finnmark
