Diet & Health News

Teenage Weight Loss Program

January 18, 2008
By J White

With obesity growing all over the world, there is a need for teenage weight loss programs in addition to programs that just target adults. This is especially true for girls. In their world they are bombarded by images of stick thin models who supposedly represent the epitome of beauty. It should come as no surprise that health experts report that there is an ever growing rise of depression in teenagers stemming from not just being over weight, but also from the teasing and abuse they receive from their peers.

To combat this problem, so called fat camps are popping up everywhere. A simple online search returns hundreds of thousands of hits on the subject. They do, however, provide a supportive environment for kids to deal with their weight issues. They also provide counselors that teach them proper eating habits, help them get motivated about exercising and more importantly help them deal with psychological problems that many of the teens have.

The only drawback about these camps is that they are very expensive. Most of these teenage weight loss programs cost $1,000 or more a week to attend. Given that many of the programs last for eight weeks or more, for the average family sending their child there for even a week is out of the question. However, there has been a push from such groups as Childhood Obesity Treatment in Action to get insurance coverage for weight loss camps.

Until that occurs, you can start your own teenage weight loss program. For starters, in most cases, it is not just your teenagers problem. In many families parents as well as the kids are overweight. If the family as a whole makes a commitment to lose weight, your child won’t feel like they are facing it alone. And by the way, shaming your child is the worse thing any parent could do.

Secondly, take up a family activity such as taking a walk together or riding bikes. Thirty to sixty minutes of this is a great way to bring the family together and to encourage more physical activity.

Lastly, when it comes to eating, make choosing what to eat a family affair. You all have your favorites. Just be sure that the selection is from a wide range of healthy foods such as fruits, complex carbohydrates and lean meats. By following this simple teenage weight loss program, you will make a big difference in your child’s life.

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