Teenagers Need Weight Loss Inspiration And Encouragement

There are plenty of very alarming health concerns when it comes to obesity and when it affects our teenage children it is even more alarming. Our health can be affected in a multitude of ways when we are overweight or obese. Included are heart problems, an increased risk of diabetes, joint problems and arthritis, breathing difficulties, sleeping problems, erratic mood swings, and much reduced energy levels. Being severely overweight for a teenager can in fact have an impact on every aspect of their life thus making it really difficult to experience the best of this important phase of their development.

Did you know that there are many cases where obesity runs in families? When the parents are obese there is a much higher chance that the child will be obese also. A possible reason for this may be because there is an inbuilt tendency to put on weight. This is because genes can have a strong influence on both body size and type.

Another important factor in teen obesity is the fact that food is available constantly today. For example there are fast-food restaurants on practically every corner, 7/11 stores are open 24 hours a day. Eating habits at home such as eating in front of the TV and eating larger serving sizes both contribute to consumption of more calories.

In addition to this our lifestyles are progressively becoming less active than was the case with our ancestors, going all the way back to the dawn of man. There is also a possibility that teens may look to food for emotional support at times when they feel pressure at school, are heartbroken over a relationship break-up or are showing signs of depression arising from a situation at school or home.

At times it can be hard to tell if a teen is simply overweight or obese due to the fact that their bodies are still developing. Because of this, doctors and other health care professionals use a different set of measurements to determine if a teen is overweight or obese than they do with adult patients. Doctors tend to consider a teenager to be obese when their BMI (body mass index) number is higher than 95% of other teens of the same gender and age.

When an obese teen is at school they can end up feeling fatigued and uncomfortable from carrying around all those extra pounds. This also puts stresses on the developing bones and joints which they are not resilient enough to cope with. As this teen grows older he or she will also be at a heightened risk of developing a host of serious health issues such as:

- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Blounts disease
- Depression
- Fatty Liver
- Gallstones
- High Blood Pressure
- Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Pseudotumor Cerebri
- Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphyses (SCFE).

The primary thing a teen should do is see a doctor in connection with any weight problems that arise to determine if they are overweight or obese. In spite of the fact that younger people generally have fewer weight-related problems than adults do, they have a higher risk of turning into obese adults which, in turn, will lead to more problems. It is really important to deal with the issues as soon as they arise before that dreaded spare tire becomes a permanent feature of that bright young teenage body landscape.

So help the overweight teen in your life by providing weight loss inspiration. Assist them in setting weight loss goals. Encouragement to eat healthy foods and exercise regularly will help them to develop life long habits which in turn will assist in maintaining lasting weight loss.