Which of the following is a potential effect of lifting weights that are too light during muscle hypertrophy training?

Lifting weights that are too light during muscle hypertrophy training can lead to stalled muscle growth because the resistance provided does not sufficiently challenge the muscle fibers. For hypertrophy, which is the process of increasing muscle size, it is essential to apply an appropriate level of resistance that causes micro-tears in the muscle tissue. These tiny injuries prompt the body to repair and grow the muscles. If the weights are too light, the muscles do not experience this necessary tension and stress to trigger the hypertrophic response, resulting in minimal or no growth over time.

While lifting lighter weights may indeed improve endurance and potentially have some benefits for metabolism, these outcomes do not align with the goal of hypertrophy specifically, which focuses on increasing muscle size rather than endurance or metabolic rates. Moreover, using weights that are too light typically does not correspond to a lower risk of injury, as injuries can occur regardless of the amount of weight being lifted, depending on other factors such as form and exercise execution. Therefore, the potential for stalled muscle growth is the most pertinent consequence in this context.