Teen weight loss

From CopperWiki

Teen weight loss specifically addresses weight loss methods for teens. Different from weight loss methods adopted by adults, the teen weight loss programmes need special attention. Teen weight loss programmes are recommended for those suffering from teenage obesity and is not recommended for teenage girls who do not fall under the category of being obese.

[edit] Why should I be aware of this?

If you are a teenager, or a parent of a teenager, chances are you have been confronted with the issue of weight loss whether the teen in question is obese or not.

With appearence assuming paramount importance in an adolescent's life, and peer pressure, television and aspirations all advocating urltra thin figures; even those who do not suffer from obesity consider weight loss programmes. And if the adolescent in question is obese, then teen weight loss programmes become all the more important with the health of the growing teen at stake.

[edit] How does it affect me?

If a teenager is not overweight or suffers from obesity then popular diet programmes mostly recommended for adults or any other crash diet programmes, will affect the teenager's health and growth.

If you are a teenager or a parent of a teenager with weight problems, it is important to stay cool and avoid ineffective or unhealthy ways to lose weight. During the teenage years, the body develops in many different ways - not all visible - and good health is essential to ensure this development proceeds smoothly.

Teenagers require a healthy, balanced diet for growth and good health. Experts opine that frequent dieting by adolescents not only inhibits growth, but might also lead to weight gain in the long run. Diets made for adults, such as the South Beach Diet, The Zone Diet, Atkins Diet, and other popular diets may mean the teenager might not be getting the right nutrition that a growing adolescent needs.

Aside from lifelong health risks such as high blood pressure and diabetes, the social and emotional fallout of being overweight can be devastating for a teenager.

[edit] All about teen weight loss

If your teen is overweight, he or she is probably concerned about the excess weight, too. Offer support and gentle understanding — and a willingness to help your teen take control of the problem.

[edit] Useful tips

Make it a family affair
Adopt healthy habits that last a lifetime.
Dispute unrealistic images
Resist quick fixes
Promote activity
Eat breakfast
Snack wisely
Watch portion sizes
Count liquid calories
Allow occasional treats
Encourage the entire family to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Avoid junk food and processed food
Discourage eating on the couch
Plan active family outings
Be positive

[edit] Other things to do

Encourage the teenager to write a journal.
If the adolescent is struggling with low self-esteem or is not able to cope with his or her weight in a healthy manner, consider a support group, formal weight-control program or professional counseling.

[edit] What can I do?

Teens cannot succeed at weight loss alone. They need supportive parents who create healthy home environments -- and who serve as good role models. When parents succeed at losing weight, their children are more likely to succeed as well. But when a teen has overweight parents, it is often very difficult for that teen to lose weight.

[edit] Introducing changes in food

Eat more fruits and vegetables
Eat more whole grains
Eat more low-fat dairy and lean meats
Eat less fat
Drink less soda
Avoid processed food
Use smaller utensils
Serve small portions

[edit] Unlearn

Turning vegeterian helps teen lose weight -- Many teenagers turn to vegeterianism in their mid or late teens in an effort to lose weight. Though vegetarianism has several benefits, it does not help in weight loss. Moreover, giving up meat, a very convenient source of important vitamins and minerals, makes it much more difficult to eat a healthy diet.
Crash diets help lose weight -- Paradoxically, ultra-low calorie dieting among teens usually leads to a gain in weight, rather than weight reduction. After a short period of rapid initial weight loss, the body starts to slow down in order to conserve calories. Upto 50 % of the the weight lost is not fat, but lean tissue.
Laxatives aid weight reduction -- Most of the weight lost by using laxatives is actually [water]] loss, and not fat loss. By speeding up the digestive process, laxatives reduce the absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and leave the teenager weak and dehydrated. Long-term use of laxatives upsets the mechanism of the colon.

[edit] CopperBytes

The calorie intake increases as the teen gets older. An 11 year old boy for example will need a daily requirement of 1800 calories while someone at the age of 18 will need close to 3000.
Those who decide to go below that are susceptible to nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, bone weakness, hair and skin loss and hormonal problems.

[edit] References

[edit] Source