Obesity among children and adolescents is a growing concern. Between 16 and 30 percent of children and adolescents are obese, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyles are the leading culprits. Left untreated, teen obesity can lead to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.
Body Mass Index
Doctors use body mass index to determine if a teen is over, under or at the right weight for her height. BMI is calculated by multiplying your weight in pounds by 703 and dividing that result by your height in inches. Unlike for adults, the BMI calculation for teens and children also takes into consideration gender and age, and is expressed as a percentile. Teens with a BMI in the 85th to 95th percentile are considered overweight. Above the 95th percentile is obese. Healthy BMI range for teens is from the 5th to 85th percentile.
Eating Habits
Teens' bodies go through many changes during puberty, so good good nutrition is important. Vending machines at school and food courts at the mall provide teens with food full of sugar, fats and refined carbohydrates. Helping teens control weight starts with healthy eating at home including meals with lean proteins, whole grains and fruits and vegetables. Teaching proper portion sizes for foods and snacks ensures they don't overeat. Healthy snacks between meals help teens keep up their energy, as well as get needed fuel to sustain their development.
Exercise
MayoClinic.com reports that kids need at least an hour of physical activity a day. With many schools cutting physical education programs, teens are not getting their daily dose of cardiovascular activity unless they are involved in sports. While many teens don't like physical education, being active can be fun if they choose an activity they enjoy and it is something they can do with friends.
Lifestyle Choices
Teens spend between 20 and 50 hours in front of a television or computer screen. Parents don't need to eliminate screen time altogether; however, they should encourage their teens to make lifestyles choices that get them moving such as spending time with friends walking or riding bikes. Many communities offer recreational sport leagues that can allow kids that don't want to do competitive school sports the opportunity to get exercise and have fun.
References
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Obesity in Children and Teens
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About BMI for Children and Teens
- Kids Health: Staying at a Healthy Weight
- University of Michigan: hysical Education in America's Public Schools
- MayoClinic.com: Teen Weight Loss: Healthy Habits Count
- Science Daily: Many Teens Spend 30 Hours A Week On 'Screen Time' During High School
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