The road to weight-loss is often plagued with ups and downs, moments of determination and times of discouragement. This road can be more difficult than many adults can handle; imagine it from the perspective of your teen. In a society where thin is in, especially among school social cliques, you need to provide the right support and guidance for your teen to successfully lose weight and improve her self-esteem.
Change Her Focus
Many teens -- especially girls -- set unrealistic goals based on unrealistic images. Perhaps your teen wants to be a size zero, mirroring the model she saw on TV the night before. This is not realistic or healthy for her. Help her understand that no perfect weight or size exists; there is no "one weight fits all." Rather than focusing on fat or skinny, help her focus on her height and the weight that fits it. Above all, stress the importance of eating to be healthy versus eating to be skinny.
Making the Commitment
Your teen needs to realize that losing weight is a lifetime commitment. He must be willing to change his eating and lifestyle habits for good, not just long enough to impress the prom queen. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry explains obesity is often a lifelong issue for teens. The only way to prevent him from turning back to his old eating habits is to learn to enjoy new ones. You can help him by changing your own habits and joining the diet parade. This shows your support for him and improves your own health simultaneously.
Make Small Changes
Overwhelming your teen with major changes all at once can be a recipe for disaster. If breakfast isn't in her daily schedule, wake her a half-hour earlier. This gives her time to enjoy a bowl of high-fiber cereal, grab a piece of fruit and cup of yogurt or eat a piece or two of whole-grain toast with peanut butter. Breakfast jump-starts her metabolism, wards off hunger and gives her more energy through the day. When she comes home from school, offer her a fruit smoothie in place of the soda she usually drinks. Over time the small changes will add up, making a difference in her weight, self-esteem and motivation.
Increase Physical Activity
Teens require 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but this can be broken up into intervals. When he comes home, offer to play a game of basketball with him. After dinner, take the family on an evening walk or bike ride. The exercise is good for everyone and shows support for your teen's weight-loss attempt. The AACAP points out making regular physical activity a family matter increases his chances of success.
Pay Attention
Perhaps the most important thing you can do to help your teen lose weight is listen to her. If she experiences a low, be there to praise her for all she has accomplished, both in weight-loss and as a person. It is vital for her to know that her weight does not define who she is. Suggest she keep a journal and write down her feelings each day. This may help determine any food triggers she has, such as a bad day at school or an argument with her friend. If you see her self-esteem doesn't improve, or she begins to withdraw, consider counseling. A psychologist can give her coping techniques to use when negative feelings strike.
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