Obesity presents numerous problems for the child. In addition to increasing the risk of obesity in adulthood, childhood obesity is the leading cause of pediatric hypertension, is associated with Type II diabetes mellitus, increases the risk of coronary heart disease, increases stress on the weight-bearing joints, lowers self-esteem, and affects relationships with peers. Some authorities feel that social and psychological problems are the most significant consequences of obesity in children.
The risk of becoming obese is greatest among children who have two obese parents. This may be due to powerful genetic factors or to parental modeling of both eating and exercise behaviors, indirectly affecting the child’s energy balance. One half of parents of elementary school children never exercise vigorously.
Obesity treatment programs for children and adolescents rarely have weight loss as a goal. Rather, the aim is to slow or halt weight gain so the child will grow into his or her body weight over a period of months to years.
Putting a teenager on a diet plan could be dangerous to the child’s health and therefore it is advised that you consult a doctor before any diet plan is put into action. It may not be necessary for the teenager to be put on a strict eating regime. So a diet plan is not always the answer.
If your teen really does need to go on a diet plan then it is important that a doctor is consulted to make sure the diet plan chosen will give the teen all the nutrients that is required.
If your teen is prepared to exercise more and cut out the chocolate and sweets then it will dramatically improve there chances of losing weight. Try to spend more time with them outdoors, walking the dog or playing there favourite sports. If they haven’t got a favourite sport, what have they always fancied a go at? Getting them more active may not be easy but coupled with a diet plan it’s a great way to lose weight and improve there health for years to come.
Adopting a formal exercise program, or simply becoming more active, is valuable to burn fat, increase energy expenditure, and maintain lost weight. Most studies of children have not shown exercise to be a successful strategy for weight loss unless coupled with another intervention, such as nutrition education or behavior modification. However, exercise has additional health benefits. Even when children’s body weight and fatness did not change following 50 minutes of aerobic exercise three times per week, blood lipid profiles and blood pressure did improve.
Tell your child that he or she is loved, special, and important. Children’s feelings about themselves are often based on how they think their parents feel about them.
Happy FamilyAccept your child at any weight. Children are more likely to accept and feel good about themselves when their parents accept them.
Listen to your child’s concerns about his or her weight. Overweight children probably know better than anyone else that they have a weight problem. They need support, understanding, and encouragement from parents.
Be active together as a family. Assign active chores such as making the beds, washing the car, or vacuuming. Plan active outings such as a trip to the zoo, a family bike ride, or a walk through a local park.
Healthy eating and physical activity habits are key to your child’s well-being. Eating too much and exercising too little may lead to overweight and related health problems that may follow children into their adult years. You can take an active role to help your child—and your whole family—learn healthy eating and physical activity habits that last a lifetime.
