When you take your teen in for a check-up, the doctor will measure his height and weight. These measurements are plotted on a graph to determine where your child measures in relation to others his age. Your teen's ideal weight depends on sex, height, weight and age. If you have concerns that your teenager is over- or underweight, talk to his physician.
Body Mass Index
Your teen's BMI is a percentage calculated based on her height, weight and age. The Centers for Disease Control state that the adult BMI calculator is different than the one used for children under the age of 19, and is not accurate for teenagers. A child's healthy BMI measurement increases as she grows, so the ideal BMI for a 13-year-old is not the same as that for an 18-year-old.
Obesity
If your teen is obese, he is 16 times more likely to be severely obese, or at least 100 lbs. over his ideal weight, as an adult, says MedlinePlus. Obesity also puts your child at risk for developing hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol and other potentially serious health problems, either in his teens or during adulthood. If your teen is obese, take steps to prevent him from becoming severely obese by encouraging healthy eating and exercise.
Weight Loss
Teenage bodies are still growing, and your overweight or obese teen should not go on a crash diet or attempt to lose weight without talking to her doctor first. Your teen should get at least an hour of exercise per day. Suggest activities such as team sports, walking, bike riding and strenuous household chores. Encourage your teen to eat breakfast each day to boost her metabolism, and to snack on fresh fruits and vegetables instead of high-carbohydrate foods. Provide water for your teen to drink instead of sugary soft drinks, fruit juice and sweetened teas.
Dieting Dangers
Some teens face intense pressure to have what the media portray as the perfect body. This extreme slimnes is unrealistic and inappropriate for a growing teenager. I some cases, a teen may become underweight and ill from dieting excessively. Many adolescents rely on dangerous weight-reduction methods such as inducing vomiting, fasting, skipping meals and crash dieting. Teens who practice these behaviors may be at risk for iron and calcium deficiencies and menstrual irregularity as well as stomach and even heart problems. If you have suspicions that your teenager is dieting to lose weight that he does not need to, contact his doctor.
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