Over 17 percent of teenagers are overweight, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted in 2004, and it is expected that obesity rates will continue to increase. Teens should learn how to eat well to promote a healthy weight and limit their risk for developing chronic diseases. Just as with adults, no one diet suits all teens. They must find a diet they can stick to for a lifetime, says the Mayo Clinic.
USDA MyPyramid Plan
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid Plan is a good tool for teens to learn the basics of healthy eating. The plan was designed specifically to help Americans of all ages eat right to maintain a healthy weight and limit illness. The MyPyramid Plan provides specific recommendations of what to eat in each food group based on a age, weight, height and activity level. It also offers information about portion sizes, best food choices from each group and best ways to prepare foods. The MyPyramid Plan also includes information about physical activity, and recommends teens get 60 minutes of physical activity, such as walking, hiking or weight training, most days of the week.
Shapedown
The Shapedown program was designed by the School of Medicine of the University of California, San Francisco. Shapedown focuses on building a teen's self-esteem, improving peer relationships and learning healthy habits to improve weight. For a teen to be successful at weight loss, the whole family needs to be involved, according to Shapedown. This 10-week program run by trained professionals features two-hour weekly meetings in which teens and their families learn about living a more active lifestyle and following a healthy, but not depriving, diet. Parents and teens can find a local program by sending an email through the website.
Slimkids
Slimkids is a healthy weight-loss program designed by a pediatric nurse and approved by doctors and dietitians, according to the website. The diet is healthy and balanced, based on the USDA's Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Teens learn how to eat the foods they enjoy while controlling portion size. The diets range from 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day, and teens lose an average of 1 to 1 1/2 pounds a week, according to the website. The program includes a week's worth of sample menus and recipes and one year of support.
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