Tips for Teens to Lose Weight

folke (64)in #blog • 5 years ago

The Weight Control Information Network notes that roughly 17.4 percent of American teens between the ages of 12 and 19 are overweight. Teens who need to lose weight sometimes seek advice from fashion catalogs or Internet recipes for fad diets. Because a teenager's body is still developing and maturing, it is not healthy for them to drastically reduce caloric intake or overwork themselves on the treadmill. Making better choices and substitutions rather than taking something away will help teens lose the weight and keep it off.

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GET A JOB

Many teens find themselves craving foods when they are bored or at home with nothing to do. Encouraging teens to find a summer or after school job may help them lose some extra weight. KidsHealth.org states that teens can incorporate physical activity into daily living by finding an active part-time job. A job will provide them with direction and a sense of self-worth, but most of all it will keep them occupied and less likely to think about food. It may curb binge eating or eating alone if they are around others in the workplace. A job also establishes a schedule so they can get in the habit of eating dinner before work and at certain times of the day.

JOIN A SPORT

According to MyOverweightChild.com, lack of overall physical activity is one of the causes of obesity in children and teens. Engaging in a sport may be a solution. Not every teenager will be an all-star quarterback, but teaching teens about good sportsmanship may help raise their self-esteem, and a combination of good self-esteem and being physically active may help shed unwanted pounds. Sports for teens range from extremely physical activities such as football, track and basketball, to less demanding such as archery, shot put and cheerleading. Just having a small amount of physical activity daily will help boost metabolism and help teens look and feel better about themselves.

AVOID DIETS

One misconception about losing weight is that you have to be on a diet to shed pounds. Teens who follow yo-yo diets like a fasting juice or a cookie diet starve their bodies of food and important nutrients. Losing weight should start by quitting fad diets and making smarter food choices. TeenagersToday.com states that by substituting a sugar-sweetened drink with skim milk during every meal will cut up to 300 calories a day, which equals to a 25-lb. weight loss by the end of the year. Packing a lunch for school helps teens pre-plan their lunch and resist overeating and making bad food choices. Choose fresh vegetables and fruits along with low-fat lunch meats on whole wheat bread. Most unprocessed food takes longer to chew and prevents overeating.