Weight Loss For Teens Is Not An Easy Issue

Mar | Leave a Comment

Feet on a scale

Obesity is striking America like an epidemic. Most American adults are overweight and 1 in 5 teenagers is overweight. Teen weight loss is an issue that requires patient understanding of the unique social and psychological issues that face teens. Teens have less developed frontal lobes and tend to think more emotionally without the emotional controls of adults.

It is not uncommon for skinny teenagers with a distorted body image to believe they are grossly overweight. Teen weight loss needs to be guided carefully by a doctor and parents. Teenagers need to be taught that their self images are not necessarily an accurate portrayal of their beings. Teach them to focus primarily on a healthy lifestyle with teen weight loss as a natural outcome, rather than on ferocious dieting plans.

Often teenagers are reluctant to accept the advice of parents, but would be more willing to accept advice from a professional authority figure. This makes nutritionists and doctors much more believable sources of information for your teenager than you. At the very least, these people will add credibility to your words.

Overweight is itself a distorted term. It simply refers to people who are a few steps above the normal weight deviations as outlined in the body mass index. Body mass index is just an equation that doesn’t take into consideration the wide variety of body builds people have. In fact, a professional football player at the linebacker position will often have a body fat percentage of less than 6%, yet be obese on the body mass index because muscle is not taken into account. However, unless your teen is hitting the steroids, a body mass index over 40 indicates obesity.

Teen weight loss must always be undertaken with a great deal of sensitivity to the vulnerabilities of teenagers. Provide good support for your teenager’s emotional needs. Help your teen to achieve a healthy body image and weight loss as necessary. Instead of lecturing or embarrassing your teenager about weight, teach your teenager about healthy nutrition. Don’t provide anything in the home that is unhealthy for your teenager.

Such products as milk, soda, deep fried food, junk food, and juices have no place in the household of those struggling with adult or teen weight loss. These things are not a necessary part of a healthy diet, so why consume them? Do you want to be responsible for your teenager’s poor health? Of course you don’t. So do more than talk health to your teen; live health. But, don’t change everything all at once. Substitute one healthy food item for one unhealthy food item in your refrigerator each week until all items are healthy, low fat, low sugar foods. Encourage good health by having an appetizing bowl of fruit on the counter and beautiful salads a part of each meal.

Your role in teen weight loss as a parent is to encourage your child’s sense of purpose and self-worth. Teach your teen to concentrate on making the world a better place more than on making self a better looking person.

Be sure to keep your child away from potentially damaging substances to growing bodies. Weight loss pills and weight loss supplements fit this category. See that they get all of their daily nutritional needs met without consuming things that will leach their bodies of nutrients.

When you are supportive of your child and make health an important centerpiece of your home, teen weight loss can be a family activity. Don’t let teen weight loss become a point of war in the family. Be patient with your child and try to remember how hard your teenage years were socially. Remember a time when every one of your peers viewed you with superficial eyes.

If your teenager likes sports, encourage your teenager to go out and play. They need to enjoy what they do for exercise so they will stick to it. Learning to enjoy exercise can lead to life long healthy living habits where things like obesity become irrelevant.

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Posted by Safe Diet | Filed Under Weight Loss