How A 13-year-old Boy Can Lose Belly Fat

Because America is currently undergoing an epidemic of obesity, belly fat is a concern for all ages. However, there are almost as many reasons for a 13-year-old boy to have developed belly fat as there are ways to address this issue. According to Carla Wills-Brandon in "Natural Mental Health," if stress, sleep disturbance, or depression go unchecked, weight gain is sure to follow. Consult with your child's pediatrician if you are concerned about his weight.

Factors

Though the typical cause for excess fat is an excessive intake of calorie-rich foods and not enough physical movement, weight regulation is also affected by lack of sleep, high-stress conditions and poor food quality. To combat the resulting belly bulge requires awareness and an acceptance of all contributing conditions and possible factors for reducing belly fat. Understanding the reason for fat accumulation will help you understand how to reduce it as well.

Stress Reduction

A study published in "Nature Medicine" took genetically identical rat groups and treated them exactly the same, with the exception of adding 20 minutes of stress to one group. The simple addition of stress caused the rats to gain excessive amounts of weight without diet change or inability to exercise. This study indicates that unexplained weight gain may have more to do with stress than caloric intake. To combat stress and reduce belly fat, implement a daily meditation or yoga practice into your child's activities. Yoga and meditation have been used at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in its mindfulness center to reduce stress effectively.

Reducing Sugars

Craving sugar in any form is a common reaction to the stress, sleep deprivation and depression common in the teen years. Sugars can be found in processed foods, breads, pastas, grains, fruits and vegetables. Helping to make healthy sugars, such as fruits and veggies, as well as lean protein snacks, available when hunger strikes will reduce the consumption of refined carbohydrates. When making these dietary switches, it is important, according to family therapist Ty Clement, to make the focus on health rather than on deprivation or a focus on body image.

Movement

Any form of physical exercise will be beneficial when trying to reduce belly fat. Not only will exercise reduce fatigue and depression, it also reduces stress hormones and reduces sugar cravings over time. Joining a fencing club, a swim team, or just walking a dog each day will promote muscle mass and decrease unneeded fat. If your son is not inclined toward athletics, you can find treadmill desks for computer time and stationary bikes that control energy to a video game console to increase movement without forcing your child to be someone he doesn't feel comfortable being.

Misconceptions

Because a 13-year-old boy is not finished growing, his body may be storing belly fat for a sudden growth spurt, so don't worry too much about weight gain and focus more on a healthy lifestyle. Many young men experience weight gain during puberty as their bodies try to account for the changes their bodies are making in the entrance to adulthood. According to Wills-Brandon, more damage is done psychologically by a negative body image than by the fat the body accumulates in effort to prepare for sudden pubescent growth.