According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 9 million children and teens are considered overweight as of time of publication. Another 9 million children and teens are at risk of becoming overweight. A 2007 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey discovered that teens consume more calories than they burn and only 34.7 percent of the teens studied met the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Diets Don't Work
Teen girls may be tempted to try the latest fad diet, take diet pills, starve themselves or purge, or create their own diet rules. All of these examples may rob your teen of important nutrients. Explain to your teen the importance of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet. Teen girls need plenty of vitamins and minerals such as calcium, protein and magnesium for strong teeth and bones. Plus, eating fruits and vegetables will help reduce their risk of serious diseases and health conditions later in life, such as osteoporosis and heart disease. Explain the negative effects of extreme dieting and exercising.
Focus on BMI
While many teen girls may have an image in mind for what they consider "in shape" or "healthy," explain to them that no specific body size or type is perfect. What is perfect is that teen girls weigh what is considered healthy according to their body mass index, or BMI. BMI is determined by your teen's age, height and weight. What may look healthy for one teenage girl may not look healthy for someone else that is taller or shorter, for example. Speak with your teen's doctor to determine weight loss goals for a healthy BMI.
Support an Active Lifestyle
According to the University of Iowa Children's Hospital, teens ages 12 to 17 watch an average of 27 hours of TV a week. In one year, teenagers spend more hours in front of the television than in class -- 15,000 hours compared to 11,000 hours, respectively. Encourage your teen to live a more active lifestyle. Look into competitive team sports or strike a deal with your teen and exchange one hour of computer games for one hour of physical activity. Go out for a walk around the block with your teen or divvy up household chores.
Eat Breakfast
One way to fight off sugar and junk food cravings, plus help kick start your teen's metabolism, is to encourage your teen to eat breakfast daily. Breakfast provides energy that lasts throughout the day, better than energy bars and drinks. Plus, it may also deter your teen from mindless snacking. Serve a bowl of high-fiber cereal or a glass of orange juice plus a plate of fresh fruit and whole wheat toast. If your teen is not an early riser, give her some string cheese and a handful of peanuts to munch on on her way to school.
References
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation; Teen Obesity
- Time Magazine; Teen Obesity: Lack of Exercise May Not Be to Blame; Alice Park; November 09, 2009
- Mayo Clinic; Teen Weight Loss: Healthy Habits Count
- University of Iowa Children's Hospital; Taking Control: Guidelines for TV and Teens
- Pal Alto Medical Foundation; Teens and Nutrition
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