Teenagers undergo a lot of changes in their bodies, so it's vitally important that they get the proper amount of nutrition every day. Diets that work for adults may not work the same for teens. In order for teens to lose weight the healthy way, they must only partake in diet programs proven to help them lose weight safely.
USDA Dietary Guidelines
Teens can take advantage of the wealth of information available through the United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, on the topic of weight loss and dieting. In conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, the USDA releases a comprehensive report every five years outlining the latest recommendations on how to eat healthy based upon the latest research and studies. The USDA offers free advice to teens looking to maintain a healthy weight through dieting. It even offers a free and easy to use tool that teens can use to get personalized diet advice, including the number of calories per day you should be targeting, the kinds of foods you should be eating and how much you should be eating of each kind. This online tool can be found at MyPyramid.gov.
SlimKids
SlimKids was developed back in 1995 by Laura Kraemer, RN, CPN, in an effort to thwart the growing obesity problem amongst teens in the United States. This dietician and doctor approved diet program for teens uses a simple, versatile approach to eating healthy. Meals plans consist primarily of foods recommended by the USDA for being nutritious for teens, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The SlimKids diet averages about 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day, and it is a versatile diet allowing you to switch out food from the same food group if you do not like a certain item on the meal plan. The focus of this diet program is on getting teens the vitamins and minerals they need to grow and develop properly, as well as limiting the number of calories consumed each day.
Lifestyle Change
Although it may sound drastic, a lifestyle makeover will not only lead to weight loss success, but it also may give teens the best chance of keeping the weight off over the long term. The experts at TeenGrowth.com recommend a five-step approach to teen dieting. First, you should consult your doctor to accurately determine your BMI, daily caloric needs and dieting advice. Second, forget about the word "diet" and prepare yourself for a long term commitment to becoming healthy. The third step is changing the way you eat. The four keys to making your diet healthier include: eating less saturated fat, reducing your portion size, snacking on veggies and fruits instead of unhealthy snacks and drinking plenty of water throughout the day.
Next, you must implement an aerobic exercise regimen---brisk walking, jogging, swimming, biking--of at least 40 minutes per day, four days per week. Finally, you must learn to love yourself and your body---improving your self-esteem is a big part of the weight loss process.
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