How to Help a Teen Lose Weight

The combination of obesity as a growing epidemic among young people and the emphasis on being thin for teen girls makes weight loss a major issue. To help a teen lose weight, remember these can be emotional years, especially if a teen feels different from others.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Healthy snacks

1. Assess the teen's weight issue. There's a difference among weight issues such as obesity, the desire to lose ten pounds and a teen who is already thin and wants to lose weight.

2. Get active with your teen. Not only is a brisk walk, run, aerobics class or swim class good for both of you, it allows for some nice time with your teen.

3. Discuss a formal diet plan with a doctor. Many experts say even obese teens shouldn't be on diets, but rather learn healthy lifestyles. Then the weight loss follows.

4. Clear the junk food out of the house. Stock cupboards and the refrigerator with healthy snacks and food choices. Remember, sugar-laden fruit juices don't help.

5. Jump-start your own weight loss effort. Not only is this a role model for the teen, but helps them feel less alone.

6. Look at cooking practices at home. You can eliminate hidden fats in cooking without sacrificing much taste.

Tips & Warnings

• Online weight loss websites can help your teen understand more about healthy eating and set goals in privacy.
• Obesity in teen years can lead to health complications at an earlier adult age such as diabetes.
• Watch for behavior out of the ordinary such as not eating at all, dramatic drops in weight or depression over self-image. Seek help in these situations.
• Avoid words such as "fat" and "overweight" when discussing weight loss with a teen. Concentrate on phrases such as"healthy weight" and "healthy lifestyle."