Teen obesity puts you at risk for multiple health problems, including high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also be embarrassing and cause you to suffer emotional and social difficulties. While there is no magic way to lose weight, eating better and adding some exercise to your routine is a healthy place to start. Talk to your parents and your doctor about making healthy lifestyle changes.
Set Realistic Goals
There is no such thing as a "perfect" body or a weight that is right for everyone. Your primary concern should be about reaching the weight that is best for you and your health. Stop thinking in terms of "fat" and "thin" and instead focus on changing any lifestyle habits that are unhealthy or that may be contributing to your weight gain. Make it your goal to get healthier and become more active, and have your physician help you determine what the right amount of weight loss is for you.
Exercise More
As a teenager, you need an hour's worth of physical activity each day. This can be a combination of activities you do in a physical education class or a practice for any school sports that you play. If you do not enjoy sports, go for a walk after school or ride your bike before dinner. The more you move, the more calories you will burn off, and even simple things like vacuuming the house or helping a parent in the garden can count as exercise. Work on adding some physical activity into each day to reach your ideal body weight.
Change Your Eating Habits
Fast food and sugary drinks may taste good, but consuming large amounts of these is not beneficial to your health. Limit the amount of processed and high-fat foods that you eat. Instead, choose healthy snacks like carrot sticks or whole-grain pretzels, and aim to get more fruit and vegetables in your daily diet. Watch your portion sizes as well, and stop eating when you are full. You can also talk to a nutritionist who can help you learn to distinguish between when you are truly hungry and when you are eating out of boredom or stress.
Get Help
No matter what your weight-loss goals are, you should never feel as though you are alone. Talk to your parents, guardians and friends about the issues you struggle with, and ask for their support. You can even get your loved ones involved in your healthy changes. Meet a friend for a hike on Saturday mornings, or cook balanced dinners with your family. If you have others join in on your lifestyle changes, you may be more likely to stick to them long term.
Member Comments