Workout Kids Push The Limits Of Safe Exercise

With childhood obesity more than tripling in the past 30 years, it seems commendable for a child to take on fitness the way 10-year-old CJ Senter does. Professionally known as The Workout Kid, CJ boasts a six-pack and a DVD fitness series designed to help kids get active. He also plays running back on a local football team, runs the 200 meter, the 100 meter and the 50 meter track events, and says he prefers fruits and vegetables over sweets and snacks.

In a Q&A on his website, CJ lists one of his favorite family activities as going outside and playing catch with a football. "Whoever drops it has to do pushups," he says.

But just how safe is it for kids CJ's age to train and diet the way he does? ABC's "Nightline" asked the experts to weigh in.

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"In my practice now, I've seen doubling of injuries to young kids, age 10 or 9 or 8, with overuse injuries because they're doing more now," Dr. Robert Gotlin, director of Orthopedic and Sports Program at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City, told "Nightline." He recommends children work out up to an hour per day, with water breaks and mixing up their exercise -- such as aerobics, lifting weights.

In addition to physical stress, experts caution that exercising beyond the requirements for good health can signal compulsive behavior, though CJ's parents insist that they have not pushed their son into being super fit. "If anything," "Nightline" reports, "the little fitness guru said he has been pushing them to shape up, encouraging them to exercise outside."

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Comments

[Sarah Tink Van Diesel]

05:14 AM on 11/26/2011

The child looks healthy, but maybe should incorporate some talk about nutrition. I think that's the problem more-so than anything with kids.They can work out all they want, and still eat all the wrong foods. Abs usually are made in the kitchen..:)

[Topps]

07:51 AM on 10/22/2011

To teach your children healthy eating habits and keep them active outside with child like activities is great.At his age lifting weights is unnatural, perhaps they can still influence in a positive manner. In the meantime slow him down until he reaches a appropriate age for weight lifting..

[A c1111]

03:13 PM on 10/21/2011

Not weight lifting..bad move..eating healthy and sports are okay.

[aguadecoco]

12:14 AM on 10/17/2011

6 of 1, half dpzen of the other

[Iain Banks]

12:14 PM on 10/15/2011

This is a good thing, the only downside is he's clearly lifting weights. Kid at that age who lift weights regularly do not fully develop. He'll stay ripped, shredded and whatever other gym lingo people use to describe fit people, but he wont grow over 5'5. But maybe that's not a bad thing.

[cque8]

11:58 AM on 10/14/2011

This young man can inspire other kids. His dedication to health is years beyond his natural age. I hope his parents will continue to guide him, and make sure as he gets older does not get into steroids, or body image dysfunction disorders. Hopefully he will have a career in Health and Nutrition.

[ramman]

10:11 AM on 10/13/2011

They need to stop making so much out of the it's too dangerous stuff because kids in my generation always play at a high level getting a workout in the process not realizing it. Now that it's changed and more kids stay indoors playing games, exercising and playing hard seem foreign to people these days in other words we've gotten too soft as a country. The difference between what this kid is doing and what we were doing in the 70's is that his exercising is much more structured and purposeful. The only possible problem I see is kids weight lifting at too young an age like the hercules kid. Age 14 I always thought was a decent age to start weight lifting.

[Hugh Briggs]

02:31 PM on 10/12/2011

Seriously? .. Children used to be much more active. In more ancient times, children were the little hunters and gatherers ; This child is a phenom and should be praised for his ethic. Hopefully this will carry over into a very active and positive adult.