Childhood and adolescent obesity and excessive weight are on the rise, and one reason is sedentary activities, such as watching television and playing video games, are more tempting to many teenagers than working out, according to the American Council on Exercise. Your teenager does not need to pursue a rigorous workout program to get and stay in shape, but she should get some exercise each day for good health.
Recommendations
Your teenager should get at least an hour of exercise each day, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of this exercise should be aerobic, which is the type of activity that gets his heart pumping. Some should be bone-strengthening, and the rest should be muscle-strengthening. While this may seem like a lot of exercise, chances are good that a fairly active teen already is meeting these recommendations. If your teen tends to be more sedentary, encourage him to get involved in various hobbies that encourage movement.
Suggestions
If your teenager is on a sports team, she may be getting most of the exercise she needs at practice. Teens without that kind of structure may need direction on where to turn. If you child feels as though she's not athletically inclined enough to join a soccer, softball or field hockey team, she may enjoy individual sports, such as swimming, tennis or martial arts. If she's reluctant to join a structured activity, encourage her to join you on evening walks or give her chores, such as walking the dog or weeding the garden, that encourage activity. Running, jumping rope or bouncing on a rebounder are good bone-strengthening exercises for teens. Squats, situps, pushups and gymnastics are good for building and toning muscles.
Motivating Your Teen
Let your teenager know that exercising is important, even if he is not overweight. A regular exercise program helps stave off obesity, as well as the conditions caused by obesity, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and some forms of cancer. If your teen is not motivated by the potential for better health, he may be interested in looking better, having more self-esteem and sleeping well. All of these are positive side effects of a regular exercise program. Joining a sports team or club can introduce him to people with similar interests and provide a social benefit, as well.
Warnings
Be aware that too much exercise has the potential to be as damaging as too little. According to KidsHealth, some teens begin exercising to lose weight but take it too far and allow it to become a compulsive habit. While teens involved in sports may work out for longer than an hour each day, if your teenager devotes several hours daily to working out or is obsessed with it, she may be exercising compulsively. Other signs include being obsessed with body weight, neglecting familial obligations or time with friends to exercise and working out even when she's sick. Talk to her doctor if you are concerned that she has crossed the line into compulsive exercising.
