About: Weight Problems

In our culture, we seem to value people with perfect bodies. Trim people are in ads, on TV, and are the models who wear the newest fashions. It is no wonder then, that overweight or underweight teens feel self-conscious about their looks.

Many teens who are overweight have been heavy since childhood. Many have learned to cope with the teasing by staying out of social situations like dances, athletics, or parties.

Being overweight puts you at risk for serious health conditions. These include Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It can also cause trouble with bones and joints, shortness of breath, liver disease, depression, and lead to cardiovascular disease. Overweight teens sometimes have irregular sleep patterns and also have a tendency to mature at an earlier age.

Most often, weight problems occur because teens do not eat properly and rarely exercise. Spending too much time being inactive can make you feel lazy and not want to move around.

One part of a weight loss plan is eating healthy foods. That means avoiding fast food and junk food as well as eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains. Cutting down on fat is very important. Remember that low-fat foods are not always low-calorie foods. Besides watching what you eat, it is important to recognize where you eat and why you eat. Eating while you are watching TV can make you lose track of how much you eat. Eat when you are hungry, not because you are bored or because something looks good.

Being underweight is usually only a temporary condition for a teen. It is typically related to a growth spurt while going through puberty. Height spurts are generally followed by weight spurts.

To gain weight, teens should eat frequent small meals of high energy foods such as milkshakes. Make certain that what you prepare is a well liked food. You may need to remind your teen to eat. If the underweight condition continues, an evaluation may be necessary.

Exercise keeps people's bodies and minds healthy. Without exercise, we do not feel or look very good. Children and teens need at least 60 minutes a day of sweat-inducing exercise. Doing less than this will minimize their health benefits. Exercising can be a lot of fun, especially when it includes doing activities like swimming, basketball, hockey, jogging, walking, skating, skiing, biking, dancing, and playing soccer.

It is tough to make changes to lose or gain weight and it takes commitment to maintain the changes. Avoid fad diets. They do not develop habits that will last. There are many good ways to help you learn more about healthy eating. Ask your school nurse, dietitian, or local Weight Watcher's group for help.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.