Are you concerned about negative body image and eating disorders in teenagers? Do you suspect that your teen has stopped eating because they perceive themselves as overweight? Do they talk about diets or teenage diet plans or other ways to lose weight? Are you finding food hidden in their closet? Be aware! All of these things can be a sign that their is an issue with body image and eating disorders. It may not be a passing phase. Your teen could potentially be heading for some serious health issues. This post was created to help you understand how you can help them.

Check out this post about How to help your child develop a healthy body image.

If your teen does need to lose weight you should keep in mind that many teenage diet plans are potentially dangerous to their health. Especially if they are the ones controlling it without understanding necessary nutritional requirements. Due to this danger you should encourage your teen to consult the family doctor before going on a diet. Most doctors will resist putting teenagers on a diet plan since it is frequently unnecessary. Quite often, the teen is not overweight at all, but they are taking the comments of peers and the unrealistic rolemodels presented by the media of celebrities to heart. If your teen does require a diet plan it’s important to do it properly with medical advice.

Teens are deeply influenced by peer pressure, and it can have an extremely negative effect on their body image of themself. Many perfectly healthy teens obsess about weight issues that don’t exist. This can lead to them taking radical measures to change themselves… including starving themselves.

The best teenage diet plan will incorporate both exercise and all the nutrients required to build strong bones and maintain good physical health. If your teen requires a diet plan, talk to a medical professional, either a doctor, dietician or nutritionist. These people can help you and your teenager create a healthy teenage diet plan.

Teenagers commonly do carry a little extra weight. Most of them lose it as they mature. It is important that your teen understand both this, and the fact that everyone is different and should not be the same. There are many body shapes and types and your teen needs to be familiar with this.

If their best friend weighs 105 lbs doesn’t mean they should be that weight, it may not even be healthy or attractive for them to be that weight. There are several factors that contribute toward a healthy weight range including; height, bone size, body shape and family history.

For those who are concerned about body image and eating disorders, a good teenage diet plan will include very few junk foods or none at all. While these foods include some beneficial nutrients, they also have loads of empty calories and fat. Overindulging in junk food at any age increases the risk of weight related diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Conversely, their diet should also include plenty of fruit and vegetables. These are low in fat and provide plenty of nutrients for healthy, growing bodies. Encourage your teenager to pack healthy snacks like fruit, nuts and vegetables for school etc. Having healthy snacks on hand reduces the temptation to purchase junk food when they get hungry.

Another essential element of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Frequently, exercise is all that’s needed. When your teenager exercises regularly they build lean muscle and lean muscle burns more calories than other types of tissue.

A healthy teenage diet plan contains lean meats. Keep them away from large portions of red meat because it is high in fat and is harder to digest. Encourage them to eat more skinless chicken and fish as these are lower in fat and will help them lose weight.

If you teen does need to lose weight then encourage them to drink low fat milk as it contains less fat than whole milk and still provides the necessary calcium to build strong bones. They should also replace soda drinks with water, the same if they drink a lot of fruit juice as these are high in sugar and can contribute to weight gain. If they don’t like drinking water explain that it helps flush toxins out of the body and will therefore help clear their skin and reduce the severity of acne. This alone is enough to change the attitude of most teenagers to drinking water.

Once again, never place your teenager on a diet yourself and watch for signs that they are trying to lose weight themselves. See your doctor if you are concerned about your teenagers body image and eating disorders.

Any teenage diet plan can cause a potential health risk, especially in individuals with certain medical conditions. It’s crucial, therefore, to seek professional medical advice before starting such a plan. In many cases, medical professionals will advise against teenage dieting because it typically isn’t necessary.

Young adults are at a susceptible point and take peer pressure to heart. They worry about their appearance and this can cause people who do not have a weight problem to take unnecessary measures. Skipping meals isn’t the answer. In fact, skipping meals is counter productive as it causes the metabolism to slow down and consume LESS calories. Never, EVER skip meals when you want to lose weight! This cannot be emphasized enough!

The best teenage diet plan supplies the correct nutrients that are required to create healthy bones and maintain overall good health. Your doctor will advise you on the most effective plan for your precise needs.

If you eat junk foods constantly you may not receive the advantages of a sensible teenage diet plan. Instead, you may be at risk of developing weight related health issues including diabetes and heart disease.

Remember that being slightly heavy is customary in individuals your age. Most people lose that excess weight naturally as they grow up. Also, everyone is different. What may be a good weight for somebody else may not be suitable for you. You have to contemplate your bone size, your shape, your height, and what’s a normal weight for your family.

You will always benefit from consuming wholesome meals and avoiding junk food, which contains very little nutrition. A meal of grilled chicken or fish (not fried) with steamed vegetables is much more nutritious than a McDonald’s burger and fries. In the same way, an apple or banana is more nutritious snack than a muesli bar or cake. Here is a good teenage diet plan you’ll be able to follow to lose your weight if you are overweight.

One vital component of a good teenage diet plan is exercise. Generally, this is enough. It helps your body to digest the food that you eat. It builds muscle that naturally burns more calories than other body tissues. Exercise uses energy that could otherwise turn into fat. If you increase the amount of exercise you receive you increase the number of calories burned and therefore the amount of weight lost.

We’ve already talked about avoiding convenience foods and any carbohydrate rich and sugar-based foods such as candy bars, potato chips and sodas. They have limited to no nutritional value. When eaten, these foods swiftly get converted to harmful fat which can eventually block your blood vessels and arteries.

It’s best to form your teenage diet plan together with your health practitioner’s help, particularly if you are excessively heavy. Refer to healthy eating books and magazines for advice and ideas. Preparing a diet plan that gets results is not difficult.

Fruits and vegetables: Eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies to ensure you obtain natural vitamins and minerals. Selected vegetables, like asparagus and beans will help you lose weight as they are protein rich and will leave you feeling full for longer which helps eliminate snacking. Carry little quantities of fruits and vegetables for snacks.

Lean meats: Lean meat can actually help you to lose weight because it needs additional energy to digest than meats with higher fat content, so always trim excess fat from your meat. Avoid eating too much red meat because it includes a lot more fat than other meats and is harder to digest. Opt for chicken or fish instead.

Milk and cheese: These two foods offer much calcium which is required by the body for strong, healthy bones. Skim milk has less fat than 100% milk but with all the goodness. Cheese is another food that can actually facilitate weight loss since it increases your metabolism.

Water: Consuming water is essential, particularly when you’re exercising. It’s the sole food you can consume that is guaranteed non-fattening.

Rather than consuming three large meals each day, switch to 4-6 smaller meals per day. Instead of eating cereal and toast for breakfast, just eat one or the other then have a piece of fruit a couple of hours later. At lunchtime have your sandwiches but leave the fruit or cake for afternoon tea etc. This will keep your metabolism working at peak performance and prevent the food from being converted to fat.

Bear in mind that the best teenage diet plan involves eating smaller amounts more often, and obtaining heaps of exercise.

What??? Isn’t this a weight LOSS blog? LOL… yes, it is. But I noticed that I’d received a couple of visitors who were looking for information on how to increase kids weight and since this is another child health and nutrition issue, I felt it was worth creating a post to address it. I’m sure even some of you who are looking for solutions for overweight children also have other children who are underweight and need to gain weight… I know my children are like that. My oldest daughter has inherited my characteristic of storing most of her fat around her hips and thighs. My son, however, is so skinny that if he turns sideways he doesn’t cast a shadow! (I know, you can’t fatten a thoroughbred!) Yet they have always eaten the same things.

So how do we solve the issue of how to increase kids weight?

Firstly, we need to understand where calories come from. There are three types of calories based on the sources of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

The role of carbohydrates in the body

Carbohydrates provide the primary source of fuel to the human body.

• Carbohydrates are converted to glucose then burned to supply immediate energy requirements
• They supply energy to the Central Nervous System which requires glucose to function properly.
• They supply instant energy to the Muscles for physical activity – Fats and proteins are only utilized after being converted to carbs then sugar.
• They free proteins to be used for muscle development rather than an emergency energy source.
• Foods rich in carbohydrates are often rich in dietary fiber (especially whole grains). This fiber is crucial to digestive health and can help prevent many digestive conditions including cancer, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

The role of protein in the body

Proteins are essential building blocks for the body and muscles. They perform a variety of functions including:

• Antibodies – Specialized proteins that defend the body from bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful foreign particles.
• Contractile proteins – Assist with muscle contraction and movement
• Enzymes – proteins which act as catalysts for certain biochemical processes in the body including digestion
• Hormonal proteins – messenger proteins that coordinate certain bodily functions such as the onset of puberty
• Structural proteins – fibrous, stringy proteins that provide support to tendons, ligaments etc. For example. Collagen, elastin and keratin
• Amino acids (storage proteins) – Muscles are predominantly made of the protein building blocks known as amino acids.
• Transport proteins – proteins that carry molecules around the body. E.g. hemoglobin which carries oxygen through the bloodstream to where it is required

The role of fat in the body

While an excess of certain fats is unhealthy, fats fulfill important functions in the body including:

• Fat provides energy during times of famine or when illness causes low appetite or the body is unable to retain food (i.e. vomiting)
• Fat helps insulate the body against extreme cold or heat.
• Certain vital organs require a protective cushion of fat.
• Dietary fat carries and enables absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K.
• Fat supplies essential fatty acids like Omega 6 (linoleic acid) and Omega 3 (alpha-linolenic acid).

As you can see all three sources of calories are vital to the human body. However, there are certain combinations that assist with weight gain.

It’s logical that an underweight person has a metabolism that burns only enough calories to supply their daily energy requirements. This is usually due to one of two factors… (a) They eat barely enough for their level of activity, or (b) Their metabolism is inefficient. Having an inefficient metabolism means that a portion of calories consumed pass unused from the body. Many young people experience this. They can eat whatever they like and they never gain weight. However, this can change. Things happen, like pregnancy in women, that cause metabolism to become more efficient and you suddenly have to be careful of what you eat.

So how does this help us to know how to increase kids weight?

When you examine the functions of different calorie types you’ll see that the most readily absorbed form of calories come from carbohydrates. This is because carbohydrates are closest to the form required by the body for energy. Fats and proteins must be converted to carbohydrates before being utilized for energy requirements. So to increase kids weight, get them to eat more carbohydrates such as breads, pasta, rice, cereals etc. Try to use wholegrain alternatives to provide the dietary fiber required for digestive health.

However, don’t just increase their carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are primarily converted to fat cells. Your child needs more than just fat cells. They also need to increase the muscle content of the body and for this they require protein.

It is possible to increase carbohydrate and protein consumption without increasing overall food consumption. It just requires a little research to reveal food options that are rich in carbohydrates and protein. You can do this at Nutrition data. But here are some foods to start with.

Cereals: Corn flakes, oat bran.
Pasta & rice: couscous, spinach pasta, rice.
Vegetables: Dehydrated mashed potato, leeks, shitake mushrooms, tomato powder, mung beans, fava (broad) beans, dried split peas, kidney beans, lentils, lima beans.
Fruits & nuts: Dried fruits, sunflower seeds, chestnuts.
Dairy: Tofu, Eggs, egg substitute powder, parmesan cheese topping, buttermilk.
Snacks: potato crisps (chips), popcorn, corn cakes, tortillas, pretzels, granola bars.
Meals: Kraft macaroni cheese dinner.
Meats: Fried chicken, beef round steak, bacon, veal leg steak, beef salami, honey roast ham, offal products (liver etc).

If you’re unfortunate enough to need help fighting obesity in adolescents, in this case overweight teenage boys, then you may need an appropriate diet plan that will meet the nutritional requirements of the obese teenager in question. While society focuses more on girls having to be skinny and ’sexy’, the fact is that many teenage boys are also overweight, even athletic teenagers like rugby and baseball players can experience weight issues. Overweight teenage boys can be found anywhere, it’s not just those who live sedentary lifestyles and munch out on junk food that have this problem. It doesn’t matter what cultural background they have, how fit they are or what they eat, overweight teenage boys are found in all walks of life.

Perhaps like many others, you have the incorrect stereotypical opinion that all obese adolescent boys sit in front of the television playing video games for hours on end and fail to get the appropriate exercise needed to maintain healthy body weight. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily the case. Even teenage boys who actively participate in sporting events can still be obese.

Finding an appropriate diet plan to fight obesity in adolescents can be very challenging. Even after finding an appropriate exercise plan for particular teenagers, it may not be sufficient. You could resort to alternative methods like diet pills, but that may not necessarily the best way to go as it may interfere with the delicate balance of nutrients required for adolescent growth. Sometimes the solution can be much simpler (and cheaper) than resorting to chemical aid like diet pills. You may find the solution is as straightforward as using several methods in conjunction to help the adolescent drop those excess pounds.

To fight obesity in adolescents you should first ensure that they have a healthy diet. If necessary you can reduce the amount of ready made, packaged foods and substitute extra fruit and vegetables. Keep in mind that teenagers are still growing. This means that they require more energy than you may think. The recommended calorie intake for a 16-18 year old male is 3000… compared to 2800 for an adult male. Of course, at this age your adolescent male is bulking on muscle as well as fat so it’s important that their protein consumption be a little higher than it was when they were younger. These factors make it difficult to determine how many calories are too much. However, with time, patience, and some luck, most people will eventually determine the right balance for their teenager. Keep in mind that you should pay attention to both portion size AND content. Adolescents require a wide variety of nutrients. Vitamin supplements can ensure that your teenager is receiving all the vitamins and nutrients he requires, though it isn’t recommended that you depend entirely on them to the exclusion of a healthy diet.

Remember, to fight obesity in adolescents you should reduce the amount of high calorie and high energy foods while substituting nutrient rich foods like fruit and vegetables to allow your adolescent to fill up on foods that won’t convert to fat so easily. Stay close to nature… give them something in it’s own skin rather than something out of a plastic packet!

After pinpointing an appropriate diet for your teenager, encourage him to engage in some form of exercise that he enjoys to help ensure that he is active. Even if this means playing Wii sportz… there are those who have lost significant amounts of weight based solely upon this type of exercise. If he’s an active participant in sports, and makes healthy changes to his diet, it will help ensure that he starts losing weight. You’ll be amazed how much difference dieting and exercise can make to a teenage boy’s energy and self image. Using diet plans to overcome obesity in adolescents could be the perfect way help your teenager feel better about himself.

If you have a pregnant teenage daughter you probably want to know about the dietary effects on teen pregnancy. We all know that it is important to have a nutritionally balanced diet, this is even more true during pregnancy. Teenagers have many special dietary needs. Whether your teen is a boy or girl, you understand there are certain things they require more than others. Doubtless, as they have grown, you’ve attempted to provide them with exactly what they need while trying to steer them away from things that make them unhealthy. Like the old adage says, “mother knows best,” This is true not only with regards to understanding that teenagers have special dietary requirements, but also that pregnant women do.

During Pregnancy women require a carefully balanced diet. Without that healthy diet, the risk of birth complications increases exponentially. Even the baby can be put in danger by an inadequate diet. This can be quite traumatic for the mother, especially if she is unaware of the danger that not eating a well balanced diet can put on both herself and her baby. For mothers who don’t realize this before things happen, it is a tragic and devastating blow.

So how can you help your pregnant teenager? As you can imagine, the dietary effects on teen pregnancy are exceedingly important. Not only does the mother need to take care of her own nutritional requirements, but she needs to also consider the nutritional requirements of the growing baby so that she can provide it with the sustenance it requires to grow and be healthy. This is an extremely challenging undertaking, especially for those who may not understand the importance of it. Of course, it is extremely important to both mother and baby.

The best way to help your pregnant teenager is to encourage them to talk to a nutritionist about specific dietary requirements that may be appropriate. This helps to ensure that she receives the correct nutrition that is appropriate for the situation. If in doubt, it is better to play it safe. Nutritionists are specially trained to make certain that people receive the right types of food for their individual circumstance.

Being pregnant as a teenager can be a frightening thing. If a nutritionist or a physician isn’t an option, then you can always search the internet to find diet plans for pregnant teenagers. Encourage your pregnant teen to eat a well balanced diet with appropriate sized portions for both their requirements and the baby’s. If she doesn’t eat enough, she can put both her baby and herself at risk. Pregnancy is extremely tiring, without proper nutrition, this situation can be exacerbated. If you are looking into dietary effects on teen pregnancy, Be certain to double check any information you discover with other sources to ensure it is correct.

Do you need tips for weight loss for teens? Modern society puts tremendous pressure on teenagers to be thin (even to the point of it being unhealthy). Popular teen television programs all feature thin, attractive characters. Even overbearing parents place unnecessary stress on their teens to lose weight, and worse still, is the peer pressure that teenagers face, peers can be incredibly judgmental of a their weight or any other perceived flaw.

Being the high school “fat kid” is a recipe for long-lasting self-esteem issues. There’s no instant solution to this problem. Weight loss is tough, and the added pressures that come with puberty and the teen years only complicates matters even more. Taking advantage of some of these tips can help make the teenage experience less scary for teens who might be overweight.

One of the most crucial tips, especially for young girls, is to make sure that they understand what a healthy person looks like. Many young women on television are dangerously thin. The media portray this as ideal, but in truth, it’s not a healthy lifestyle. Many adolescent girls develop eating disorders trying to look like women they see on TV, and this is a recipe for disaster. Make sure they understand what is and isn’t a healthy weight. You can check their BMI with them at kidshealth.org

Adolescent girls are not the only one who fall victim to eating disorders, it’s a problem for adolescent males too… though perhaps to a lesser extent. It’s common for teenagers to look in the mirror and perceive themselves as ugly and fat, when they’re realy a perfectly healthy young person. If you constantly feel anxious and depressed about your weight or appearance, you should consult a psychologist or school counselor. They can help you improve your self-image and pursue weight loss goals in a healthy way.

Another tip for weight loss for teens is to keep in mind what your body is growing through. During the teen years, your body undergoes tremendous changes that affect your growth. For instance, your body might cycle between bulking up on muscle/fat then switch to a growth spurt in which you gain several inches in height, this makes your weight even out across your frame.

Puberty is a complex time – if you know you’re following healthy diet and exercise habits but aren’t seeing results, you may need to wait until you’ve fully grown into your body.

Regardless of anything else you do, exercise and diet will always be important factors in weight loss. Remember this as you go through school, and think of ways to improve your health. If the school cafeteria only serves greasy, unhealthy foods, discuss with your parents about taking a healthy lunch from home every day. Always participate in gym class, and get involved in extra-curricular sports activities if possible.

One last factor that can be a great asset in weight loss for teens is enlisting the aid of friends and family. In most cases, your family wants to be healthy too, and you can support one another while trying to improve your health. If one of your parents is the primary cook, discuss with them about healthier food options.

And if you want extra exercise you can offer to help your parents with housework or gardening. These things will help you lose weight AND make your parents EXTREMELY pleased with you!

Following these tips for weight loss for teens can make a massive difference for you.

Does your teen come home from college with tear streaked cheeks because of their weight? Do they rush to their bedroom because they do not want to talk about it? Do you cry with them because you understand and feel their pain? It doesn’t have to be that way for either of you. Read on for more information on simple weight loss for teens.

Recent studies show that teenage obesity has reached epidemic proportions. Most studies indicate that not only do body structure, DNA, diets of fast foods and overeating contribute to the weight issues, but the lack of physical activity by today’s adolescents may be a primary cause. A disturbing fact revealed in these studies is that most adolescents have less than thirty minutes of exercise per 24 hour period.

Parent who don’t practice healthy eating and exercise habits are contributing to tennager’s dangerous exercise habits and obesity. A smart way to help yourself and your offspring to create healthy habits, is to find an exercise program you can both take part in. It does not have to be boring repetitive type of exercise, it could be loaded with fun. However, there’s one thing you must do before starting any exercise program.

If you and your teen are both overweight, you should consult with your family doctor to have a physical checkup before committing to any weight loss or exercise program. This checkup can rule out any underlying health problems which may be causing the weight gain. It will also confirm if you’re each healthy enough to take part in an exercise program to lose weight.

Weight loss for teens doesn’t need to be complicated. You can start off with a walking program. To help make it bearable for your adolescent, permit them to take along their I-pod or other music player. But it’s also a great time for you guys to spend quality time together

It’s a good idea to take this slowly and talk with them concerning things that they’re interested in. Don’t use it as a time to preach at them or they will simply block you out and you will kill whatever interest they have started to build in exercise.

Another fun exercise for the entire family cycling. Remember how much fun you had riding a bike as a child? This exercise is one of the best to form a habit for both you and your children. It does not take long before it becomes a nice habit for both of you.

One of the real advantages from bike riding is that the way it will assist you to shed those extra pounds while building muscle at the same time. In time, both you and your teenager will have more shapely legs and a firmer butt. In addition it elevates your heart rate, which will benefit your body with increased oxygen saturation as well as forcing you to consume extra energy.

Another fun exercise to participate in is swimming. Obviously not everyone has the luxury of a private pool, In which case you can attend a local public swimming pool or gym… or get friendly with someone who has a backyard swimming pool.

You need to face the fact that as a parent, it’s your responsibility to ensure your child’s welfare and overall health. By encouraging them to develop healthy eating and exercise habits now, while they are still young, you are setting them up for life.

Easy weight loss for teens, doesn’t have to be exhausting, nor must it be boring. It simply needs to be done.

As all parents know, getting children to eat the right kinds of foods to meet their nutritional requirements can be a tremendous challenge. It seems like they only ever want to eat junk because they are so fussy about what they will and won’t eat. It’s enough to make you want to tear your hair out in frustration. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who has ever wondered how to give their child a balanced diet when all they want to eat is sausages and mash!

Thankfully, my daughter is now eight years old and is more adventurous, she loves pumpkin (especially roasted), she’ll eat a few peas, loves baby carrots and broccoli (of all things), plus several types of fruit. But she is still very fussy about a lot of other things… her thing at the moment is ‘I don’t like garlic!’ Althought she loves garlic bread… go figure! When she was in pre-school (kindergarten) she wasn’t allowed to take snack bars, cookies or any type of junk food for snack time. It had to be something healthy like fruit. The only option we had with her was cheese because she wouldn’t eat fruit at that time. It was kind of funny, because her teacher actually told us off for always sending her with a couple of cheese wedges… oh well, at least her calcium needs were being met

When you have a child that is fussy about what they will eat it can be extremely difficult to make sure that their nutritional requirements are met. At times like this a vitamin supplement is ideal to supply what their diet lacks.

You can buy vitamins for kids from just about anywhere these days, health food stores, supermarkets, pharmacies etc. My daughter has taken a multi vitamin from Herron chewable Vita minis for several years. Vitamins for kids come in several different types including multi vitamin, vitamin C, Omega 3, calcium… even fiber.

They also come in several different formats. From chewable vitamin tablets (like Herron Vita minis) to products like those from Hero Nutritionals who supply ‘gummi’ vitamins for both adults and children. The vitamins for kids are called Yummi Bears. You know, like Gummi Bears only they’re a vitamin? These are ideal for children who don’t like traditional vitamins because it effectively turns vitamin time into treat time… all kids love their candy and that’s exactly what they think Yummi Bears are… only you will know they’re good for them. Hero Nutritionals even supply Yummi SourZ for kids who like sour candy.

So if you have a child who is a fussy eater, providing them with a children nutritional supplement can be a fantastic way to make sure their nutritional requirements are met thus giving YOU peace of mind while you attempt the introduce them to the types of food that will supply those needs

It should be noted that a children nutritional supplement does not remove the need for a balanced diet. It is still extremely important to introduce nutritionally balanced foods in a way that makes your child willing to eat it.

Being overweight is difficult. Especially for a child.

Other kids tease them, tell them they’re fat, and simply don’t understand.

Most people just assume an overweight kid is a glutton, that’s not always the case.

There are many causes of obesity in kids, with just a few being mental health issues which in turn may stop kids from exercising or playing with their friends, kidney issues can cause excess weight, and some medications can plow on the weight as well. And these are just a few.

Rather than judging, we need to be more mindful of the problem, and find creative ways to help alleviate it.

One way to do this is to exercise as a family. Here are a few ideas:

Cycling: plan a bicycle trip where the whole family goes along. It doesn’t have to be anywhere too far away, and in fact, it’s better to start off with a very short trip. Start off with (say) a ten minute trip, and gradually build on that. After one or two ten minute trips, build it up to fifteen, then twenty minutes and so on.

It’s better to build up over time rather than start off with a long trip where everyone is exhausted and has aching muscles. By building up gradually, there’s less likelihood of this happening.

Perhaps you can find a nice park as your destination when the trip is a little longer. Pack a picnic lunch and carry it in backpacks. That way not only is the trip healthy, it’s also a cheap outing for the entire family.

Walking: this is a great activity, especially if the overweight person is also unwell (which is often the case), or some of the walkers are ‘more mature’. Walking has much less impact on the body than running or jogging, but is very effective.

Like cycling, it’s a good idea to start off with short walks, and build on the distance. It’s much better to take a short walk around the block, than to try for a longer distance on the first effort. When you are confident enough to go further, give it a shot.

Keep in mind failure to complete is a big problem for many overweight children. If they are unable to ‘make the cut’ they’re less likely to try again.

Playing Ball: believe it or not, the simple act of throwing a ball around can have an impact on the fitness of an overweight child. Although relatively low-key, it’s still exercise and will help lift the child’s fitness levels.

Fit Ball: although at first glance it may not seem possible, these unassuming balls can do a lot to help tone and also lift fitness levels. They are a great choice for anyone who is very overweight, because they make the exercise less stressful on the body. Fit Balls are relatively cheap – starting at $20 – but depending on the quality can be much more expensive. They generally come with their own set of exercise sheets.

Each of these exercises will have a low impact on your child’s body, but will contribute to their fitness level.

They are all fun activities, and in many cases, your child won’t even realize they are exercising. Keeping it fun is the key to guiding your child to a more active (and therefore fitter) life.

Body image is a learned behavior. It’s learned from society, peers and family and it stays with us for life.

The effect of society on body image

The benchmark here is the fashion and entertainment industries. When you see fashion models are they realistically proportioned people? NO!!! The vast majority of them fit an extremely narrow segment of society… those with an hourglass figure. Most female models in particular are size 4-8… despite the average size being 12-14. Keep in mind that these girls are most probably underweight. If we compare ourselves to them, of course we end up feeling like big fat blimps!

It’s important to teach your children that very few people could ever fit this ideal since it is based on the classic hourglass figure and only 5% of people have this figure type. For anyone else to reach these proportions it would be physically impossible, not to mention extremely unhealthy. If your child is in their mid teens it’s probably a good idea to help them identify their own body type to help avoid comparisons. If they DO have an hourglass figure it’s probably best to focus on healthy body size… you might want to calculate their BMI with them. To learn how to do this visit How to calculate BMI

The effect of peers on body image

Children are extremely impressionable and dependent upon the approval of others. So when their peers say they are fat, ugly or whatever, children take it to heart. Of course, children don’t have the maturity to understand what is and isn’t a healthy size. Combine that with the fact that children can be extremely cruel because they haven’t learned to treat others as they want to be treated. These factors mean a child can receive some extremely negative messages about their body at a time when they desperately need positive affirmations.

The effect of family on body image

While most of the blame for body image issues goes to the fashion and entertainment industries, what children see at home can also have a negative impact. For example, when we make negative comments about our body our children hear that and trust our opinion… we’re their parents after all, adults who must therefore be right about these things… NOT!!! Children use our opinions to create their own perceptions of appropriate body size. Thus, the more negative we are, the more negative they learn to be. This relates to any part of the body, whether it be our bottom, thighs, love handles, face, arms, neck, whatever part of our body we don’t like. Unfortunately, children learn from that.

Constantly talking about being ‘on a diet’ or ‘trying to lose weight’ has the same effect. Think of ‘diet’ as a dirty word! Again, children learn from this. All they have is inaccurate perceptions provided by other people. Without educated knowledge of what is and isn’t a healthy body size it can have a very detrimental effect on their body image.

It is important to educate children about their body as they approach those turbulent teenage years when they start to take control of their own lives and truly become an individual. But how do we do this so they will develop a healthy body image?

Here are a few tips:

1. Avoid making negative comments about YOUR body in front of your child, even if you think they’re not around.
2. Switch negative comments to positive by changing the ‘I’m on a diet’ line to ‘I’m being health conscious’ (being on a diet is negative, being health conscious is positive). Don’t mention trying to lose weight especially if you’re only trying to lose a small amount
3. Avoid making negative comments about their body like ‘gosh you’re getting chubby’ because if their peers are making comments you’ll just be reinforcing the negative body image
4. Help your child understand that society has an unrealistic ideal because they focus on only one body type when there are many body types (and show them those body types). Teach them how trying to conform to society’s unrealistic ideal is not only impossibe, but extremely unhealthy when they don’t have that body type.
5. Help your child understand that their peers are just spouting what they see in the fashion and entertainment industry when they make negative comments about one anothers bodies.
6. If they need to lose weight, don’t tell them you’re putting them on a diet, just substitute some healthy options like fruit for high energy, high sugar, high fat content snacks.
7. Most importantly – Make sure you provide positive affirmations about their physical appearance like; you have a good figure, you’re well built, you’re pretty/handsome etc