How to Stop Teen Obesity

Teen obesity is rising every year, according to the website Obesity Free Forever. Obese teenagers not only suffer from abuse from their peers, but they also are at risk for heart disease and diabetes. Teaching teenagers how to control their weight and fight obesity themselves is one of the first steps in stopping teenage obesity. It is also important that parents of teenagers who are obese or at risk of obesity know how to help their children. Obesity raises the human mortality rate for children and adults alike.

Instructions

• 1

  Teach children how to eat properly. Proper nutrition is one of the most important steps in preventing and reversing obesity. "Williams' Essentials of Nutrition & Diet Therapy" suggests that teenagers should know the food pyramid and be encouraged to follow its suggestions. Getting the proper amount of whole grains, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and lean meats is important in everyone's diet, as is avoiding fattening treats, processed foods and sugars. It is also important to teach teenagers that avoiding fast food is much healthier for their bodies. Getting plenty of water, rather than soda, is also a good lesson to learn.

• 2

  Find out what teens are being fed at school for lunch. Most schools have food choices that are full of sodium like French fries, pizza and processed foods. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to raise the standards of school lunches and get them to add more vegetables to the menu choices, but parents should take a stance in this objective, too. Try challenging the schools to supply more nutritious meals for children and teens. Also, teach teenagers how to pack their own healthy "brown bag" lunch to take to school with them in place of the unhealthy lunchroom choices.

• 3

  Ensure that teenagers are getting enough exercise and physical activity. While still in school, many teenagers will be subject to a physical education class, but they need to know that physical activity needs to be part of their lives when they are not in school. Even if there is no time for a regular exercise routine, physical activity can be found in the most interesting areas. "Motivating People To Be Physically Active" suggests that teenagers take up sports outside of school. Things like hiking and even shooting hoops can give the body the workout it needs to stay fit. Teens, just like adults, should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity or exercise at least five days a week.

• 4

  Talk to them about the health risks of taking pills to aid in weight loss, and make sure they know that loosing weight or keeping weight off is about health, not looks. Teenagers who feel bad about their image might develop an eating disorder, which is why it is important that teens know they do not need to look like people in magazines or on TV. Rather, they need to be taught that a healthy weight --- not too thin and not too fat --- is ideal and can be gained with proper diet and fitness. A healthy weight prevents heart disease and obesity, both early and later in life.