Maintaining weight can challenge teens, and starting diets helps them lose weight. Negative body image and peer pressure may lead teens to start dieting. Nutrisystem comprises a popular diet with support tools to help teens lose weight. However, this diet severely restricts calories, which challenges teens to continue the program. Teens may gain weight after stopping the program.
Benefits
Nutrisystem helps teens lose weight by using portion control. Losing weight and preventing obesity helps reduce the risks of diseases. Teens benefit from lower incidence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, asthma, kidney disease and pancreatitis. The number of overweight and obese teens continues to rise. Obesity has increased from 6 percent to 15 percent over the past 20 years, according to OverweightTeen.com. This statistic makes teen obesity one of the most common chronic illnesses.
Features
The Nutrisystem diet has been around for 30 years, according to the WeightLossforBusyPeople website. Teens choosing this program select pre-packed meals from the Nutrisystem website. A one-month supply of breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert foods are delivered to their door; meals are cooked in a microwave. The plan includes instructions and pamphlets to guide teens on the program. The 1,200 calorie diet focuses on low-fat and high-protein foods that stave off hunger. Complex carbohydrates such as vegetables and whole grains help reduce cravings by maintaining blood sugar levels.
Potential
Convenience helps teens lose weight on the Nutrisystem program. Preportioned meals simplify the diet, which helps teens comply long term. Teens with busy lifestyles benefit from the program, because meals do not require preparation. Teens also receive help from online tools and resources to keep them motivated. Weight loss news, articles, individual counseling and a weight loss tracker help teens focus on the program.
Considerations
The Nutrisystem diet has a few issues. Weight loss from diet alone proves difficult, so the plan encourages exercise. High cost can discourage a teen dieter from using Nutrisystem. Each food order costs about $275 for a four-week cycle, according to WeightLossforBusyPeople.com. Teens also have to supplement the plan, because Nutrisystem does not include fruit, vegetables or milk, which adds to the total cost of the diet. Receiving four free weeks of food from a promotion can help, but limited choices defeat this perk. Maintaining a 1,200 calorie diet can also challenge teens to continue the diet.
Misconceptions
No magic theory or diet exists for quick weight loss. Losing weight takes time and effort. Including exercise with a diet can help teens lose weight gradually, but the diet can get boring due to the limited number of choices. Weight gain can result when teens stop using the Nutrisystem diet; they may end up heavier than before they started.
Warning
Growth occurs rapidly in teens, and limiting food can prevent this. Teens may not receive the necessary amount of essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow while on the diet. Nutrisystem's 1,200 calorie diet may be difficult for teens, and may not be appropriate for athletes.
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