Health
Burnout and overtraining are forcing young athletes to drop out of sports, new report reveals
With some 70% of teenagers and children dropping out of organized sports by age 13, experts are chiming in on potential reasons for early burnout.
The dropout stat was revealed in a new report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — “Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Young Athletes” — published in the journal Pediatrics on Jan. 22.
Given the growing trend of young athletes participating on multiple teams at the same time while training year-round, pediatricians told Fox News Digital they’re seeing more cases of burnout and stress injuries at young age.
FROM HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TO YOUTH ATHLETICS: THE ‘CRUSHING’ PRESSURE ON KIDS THAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW
“Burnout is real and it’s something that parents and coaches have to be attuned to,” Dr. James Barsi, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital on Long Island, New York, who is not affiliated with the AAP report, said to Fox News Digital.
A current quarterback of a high school football team, who also plays travel baseball on Long Island, New York, said he sees burnout among some of his peers.
Approximately 70% of teenagers and children drop out of organized sports by the age of 13, a new report found. (iStock)
“[There’s] definitely pressure on kids these days because they’re trying to be the best athlete they can be and it’s just always on their shoulders, like, ‘I gotta train more and more to be the best,’” he said, adding that his former teammates told him they “just can’t do it anymore.”
The AAP report, which was an update to a previous report published in 2007, said overscheduling and excessive levels of training could lead to burnout, contributing to the high dropout rate in sports.
This intense volume of training could also affect a young athlete’s sense of well-being and quality of life, the report noted.
There’s a growing trend of young athletes participating in multiple teams at the same time — and pediatricians say they are seeing more cases of burnout and stress injuries. (iStock)
“Whether training is specialized or multisport, it becomes a problem when an athlete no longer has any free play time or opportunity to engage in other non-sport-related activities,” Dr. Andrew Watson, M.D., co-author of the report, said in a news release.
“The old saying ‘no pain, no gain’ doesn’t necessarily hold true.”
Some level of stress can be productive, experts agree — but excessive amounts can become a problem.
“Athletic competition and training will always prompt some stress that, when delivered in an appropriate way, leads to adaptation, success and enjoyment,” Watson said
“When that stress becomes excessive, it can lead to burnout.”
The new AAP report noted that overscheduling and excessive levels of training could lead to burnout, contributing to the high dropout rate in sports among young people. (iStock)
The AAP defines overtraining as “a decrease in performance due to an imbalance of training and recovery that is often accompanied by persistent fatigue, impaired sleep and alterations in mood.”
Dr. Kristin Hopkins, director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Stony Brook Medicine and team physician at Stony Brook University athletics on Long Island, New York, was not affiliated with the report but commented on it.
She said that in today’s sports landscape, there is “no off-season” for kids who are passionate about one sport and have aspirations to play that sport in college — which can leave young athletes at risk for burnout and injuries.
KIDS WHO CONSUME ENERGY DRINKS ARE MORE PRONE TO MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS, STUDY FINDS
“That sort of continuous play can put kids’ joints at risk for what we call overuse injuries, things we weren’t really seeing before, because a kid would play a sport for a season and then move on to another sport and use a different muscle group,” Hopkins told Fox News Digital.
‘Micro-trauma’ to bone and soft tissue
An overuse injury typically occurs when the body is exposed to repetitive stress without enough recovery time, the AAP noted.
This can lead to “cumulative micro-trauma” to bone and soft tissue, such as muscles or tendons.
Pain typically occurs after an activity and then progresses to occurring even at rest, the report said.
A New York pediatric orthopedic surgeon said he is seeing spine stress fractures about 10 times a month.
Children and adolescents are at an increased risk for these types of injuries because their bones are still growing and do not tolerate stress as well as adults’ bones, experts said.
“I’m seeing spine stress fractures about 10 times a month,” Barsi, the pediatric surgeon, told Fox News Digital, amid what he called an “increasing epidemic” of overuse injuries in kids.
It is important that athletes incorporate rest days and stretching in their workout regimen, physicians said. (iStock)
Recovery from this type of injury typically requires rest, said Barsi, which is a difficult message to deliver to a young teen who feels pressure to perform and maintain a spot on a sports team.
“I always emphasize the long-term picture,” Barsi said. “A brief period of rest in the short term is probably better for them.”
He added, “If injuries progress, it can cause long-term harm — then instead of missing a few weeks, they might be missing an entire season.”
“I tell parents and kids that if you’re playing one sport for more hours of a week than your age, you’re doing too much of that sport.”
It’s important that athletes incorporate rest days and stretching in their workout regimen, physicians said.
NEW OHIO LAW REQUIRES COACHES TO GET MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING TO HELP STUDENT ATHLETES: ‘SUPPORT OUR KIDS’
“So often, these kids are really tight at baseline, which is probably a combination of not stretching, going through a little bit of a growth spurt and just getting tight naturally,” Barsi said. “When you’re tight, you get predisposed to these injuries, so stretching can actually prevent them.”
He also said athletes should listen to their bodies.
“Pain is their body’s way of telling them to take it easy,” he said. “The old saying ‘no pain, no gain’ doesn’t necessarily hold true.”
An intense volume of training could affect a young athlete’s sense of well-being and quality of life, the new report noted. (iStock)
Dr. Joel Brenner, M.D., one of the authors of the published report, noted in the release, “Sports are such a powerful and fun motivator to keep youth physically and mentally active, but some youth may feel pressure from parents, coaches and others to measure success only by performance.”
Practices like mindfulness and time away from sports could help prevent burnout and injuries, he suggested.
Hopkins said avoiding burnout and overtraining starts at home.
“I tell parents and kids that if you’re playing one sport for more hours of a week than your age, you’re doing too much of that sport.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Both experts recommended incorporating weight training to help strengthen muscles.
The young athletes should also work with an experienced trainer, said Hopkins, who can monitor the athlete’s form to avoid injuries.
The athletes should “avoid ego lifting” and gradually build up weight resistance, noted Barsi.
If an athlete displays signs of overtraining or burnout, it’s best to change the contributing factors and consult with a mental health professional if needed, the AAP advised. (iStock)
For clinicians working with families, the AAP report included specific recommendations to help encourage healthy participation in athletics.
Some suggestions include having the athlete undergo a pre-participation exam by their pediatrician, promoting skill development and avoiding overtraining and overscheduling.
Other means of preventing burnout and injury include encouraging athletic autonomy; fostering positive experiences with coaches, parents and peers; and keeping workouts interesting and fun by incorporating age-appropriate games and training.
If an athlete displays signs of overtraining or burnout, it’s best to change the contributing factors and consult with a mental health professional if needed, the AAP advised.
Fox News Digital reached out to the AAP for additional comment.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications.
The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway.
This discovery appears to explain how GLP-1 drugs — which mimic glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and appetite — protect heart tissue from a condition known as “no-reflow.”
“In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny blood vessels within the heart muscle remain narrowed, even after the main artery is cleared during emergency medical treatment,” Dr. Svetlana Mastitskaya, the study’s lead author and a senior lecturer at Bristol Medical School, said in a press release.
“This results in a complication known as ‘no-reflow,’ where blood is unable to reach certain parts of the heart tissue.”
In nearly half of all heart attack patients, tiny capillaries (blood vessels) remain narrowed even after the main blocked artery is cleared. (iStock)
This lack of blood flow increases the risk of heart failure and death within a year. GLP-1 medications could prevent this, according to the researchers.
How it works
When the GLP-1 hormone is released in the gut or administered as a drug, it sends a signal to the brain, which then sends a signal to the heart that switches on special potassium channels in tiny cells called pericytes.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
When these channels open, the pericytes relax, which allows the small blood vessels (capillaries) to widen and improve blood flow to the heart muscle, the researchers noted.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The new study used animal models and cellular imaging to track how GLP-1 interacts with heart tissue. When the researchers removed the potassium channels, the drugs no longer protected the heart — confirming they play a key role.
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments. (iStock)
The findings suggest that existing GLP-1 medications, already used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, could be repurposed as emergency treatments during or immediately after a heart attack to reduce tissue damage.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
The researchers noted several limitations, including that the study relied on animal models.
Clinical trials are necessary to determine whether the brain-gut-heart pathway operates with the same timing and efficacy in humans.
While the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it des not establish whether long-term use of these drugs provides a pre-existing level of protection. (iStock)
Additionally, while the study highlights the drug’s immediate benefits during a heart attack, it does not establish whether long-term use of the medication provides a pre-existing level of protection.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The research was primarily funded by the British Heart Foundation.
Related Article
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
EXPERIMENTAL SERUM SHOWS PROMISE IN REVERSING BALDNESS WITHIN 20 DAYS
“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
Related Article
Capitals Acquire a Conditional First-Round Pick in Either 2026 or 2027 and a 2027 Third-Round Pick from Anaheim for John Carlson | Washington Capitals
Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for March 5, 2026
University, Ripley out to early leads at state wrestling – WV MetroNews
Wyoming 3A and 4A Boys Basketball Regionals Tip Off Postseason Play
1 Cryptocurrency Set to Rebound in 2026
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DOJ continues Biden autopen probe despite former president unlikely to face charges
Fact check: Did French border guards mock influencers returning from Dubai amid Iran war?
Iran’s fight for survival / The widening war / Trump’s nebulous goals : Sources & Methods
Map: 4.9-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Louisiana
Paxton vows he’s ‘staying in this race’ even if Trump backs Cornyn in Texas GOP clash
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Wisconsin4 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Maryland5 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Massachusetts3 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Florida5 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Oregon7 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling