Easy Ways for Teens to Lose Weight

Teenagers often find themselves obsessing over their weight. This can be caused by the standards set by media and pressure from parents or peers. Teens care about how they look because they want to fit in and have friends--and often other teens aren't particularly kind when it comes to the way people look. Add to this the high rate of childhood/teenage obesity due to sedentary lifestyles and poor food choices, and you will find many teens looking for an easy way to lose weight.

See a Doctor

• Determine if you actually need to lose weight. The best way to figure this out is by seeing a doctor. The body mass index (BMI) charts that can tell people if they are overweight based on height and weight is designed for adults. There are a lot of body changes taking place during the teenage years, so it is imperative to consume adequate, nourishing calories. By talking to a doctor you can determine if you need to lose weight and, if so, how much you should lose. The doctor can also give you tips to help your weight-loss goals.

Substitute with Healthy Choices

• Replace junk food with wholesome choices that you enjoy. Potato chips, candy and other processed snacks can be replaced with grapes, nuts, carrot sticks and natural popcorn. Trade ice cream for yogurt. Instead of a processed frozen pizza, add natural tomato sauce and fresh cheese to a whole-wheat pita and bake in the oven until the cheese melts.

Get Moving

• Exercise is the easiest way for teens to get to their ideal weights. Don't join a gym or run in place in your room. It isn't much fun so you won't stick to it. Join a class that will not only provide exercise but can help you build social skills and friendships. Consider dance class, soccer or karate. If you don't want to join a team sport, find a friend who wants to lose weight too and start walking in a park together several times a week. If you eat when you are bored, find a hobby to get you out of the house or preoccupied, so you won't think about food.