High rates of childhood obesity in the United States in comparison to other industrialized nations leaves parents wondering how to prevent their teenagers from becoming overweight. Removing junk food from the home is one way to reduce your teenager's risk of putting on extra pounds. Avoid purchasing products with added sugars, including high fructose corn syrup.
Healthy Eating
Diet modification and exercise present the safest way for teens with developing bodies to lose weight. According to the Weight-Control Information Network, fad diets can lead to malnutrition, hindering your teenager's healthy development. Replace high calorie processed foods such as snack cakes with natural whole grain muffins. Serve your teenager lean proteins, fruits and vegetables. Reduce caloric intake by diluting juices with water and avoiding soda. Avoid high-fat, high-sodium foods, as well as those with hydrogenated oil and high fructose corn syrup.
Exercise
The only way to lose weight is by burning more calories than you consume daily. Teens can safely lose weight with aerobic exercise, including joining a sports team, brisk walking at the park or taking up a physical hobby such as horseback riding. The safe way to exercise includes warming up and cooling down. GirlsHealth.gov reminds parents to provide the proper safety equipment for sports and exercise such as a helmet, mouth guard and the right footwear. Your teen athlete should bring plenty of water to practice to avoid dehydration, and eat protein-rich foods after practice to replenish your body with nutrients.
Visit the Doctor
The safest way for your teen to lose weight is under the supervision of your health-care professional; especially obese teens and children with a pre-existing health condition like diabetes or asthma. A study by the Department of Family, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences at Queens College of the City University of New York published in the January 2007 issue of the journal Pediatrics found that when doctors recommend teens lose weight they are more likely to start a weight loss program than teenagers whose doctors said nothing. A health professional helps to provide a specialized diet and exercise routine designed for your teenager's physical condition and weight loss needs. She may order tests to ensure your teen does not have an undiagnosed physical or mental condition that prevents him from losing weight. Medical tests can also determine nutrient deficiencies that could result in retarded growth.
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