Weight Problems in Teens

It's no surprise that teens want to look and feel their best, but sometimes that is easier said than done. Just like adults, teens struggle with weight issues. Often, these go hand in hand with family problems, school challenges and difficulties in peer relationships. Learning new habits for appropriate weight maintenance is only half the battle; often, to achieve a healthy weight, teens must confront deeper issues that have plagued them for a long time.

Overweight

• Being overweight is likely the top concern of many teens today. Often, this occurs because of poor eating habits learned in early childhood, as well as a sedentary lifestyle. Teens may have difficulty finding the time to exercise when they must sit in school for seven to eight hours a day, then come home and do homework that requires hours of additional sitting. Encourage your teen to participate in at least one extracurricular activity that involves movement, such as a sport. Healthy eating must also be a family affair; otherwise, the teen will fight an uphill battle against tempting treats at home.

Underweight

• Though not as common as being overweight, underweight teens also have concerns about their bodies. Some (especially males) feel that they are too small and thin, and do not measure up to their larger, more muscular peers. While there is little teens can do to change their individual genetics or growth rates, building muscle through weight training and increased fat and protein consumption is an option. The most important thing to remember about underweight teens is that they are still growing. As such, make sure they get proper nutrition at this stage, or long-term health consequences may result.

Anorexia

• Anorexia is an eating disorder in which individuals do not consume enough calories for optimal functioning. Excessive exercise is also often a part of the disorder, where the victim performs too much cardiovascular or muscular training in an attempt to lose weight. Earlier assumed to be a condition that affected mainly teenage girls, boys are quickly becoming anorexia's latest victims. Immediate intervention by parents, teachers and school counselors is necessary to effectively combat this disorder.

Bulimia

• Bulimia is another common eating disorder experienced by teens who are overly focused on losing weight. It is characterized by binges (consuming large quantities of food in one sitting) and purges (removing the excess calories from the body by means of vomiting, laxatives or similar methods). Long-term consequences include poor growth rates, gastrointestinal issues and a host of psychological problems. Like anorexia, early intervention is needed by adults to help the victim.