Teen
Weight Loss - A Growing Problem?
Teen
weight loss is becoming a matter of grave concern.
Some
health care professionals have gone so far as to predict a diet
and nutritional related disease epidemic in the next 10-20 years.
They point out that with this epidemic comes a great cost -- measurable
in dollars and a growing strain on the health care system. Not to
mention the human cost brought about by earlier incidences of heart
attack, diabetes, stroke, and other diet related diseases.
Teens
have traditionally been immune to the battle-of-the-bulge that so
many middle-aged North Americans are familiar with. So what's up?
Why the sudden concern with teen weight loss?
The
teen weight loss issue involves much more than ignorance of simple
nutrition. Sure, at the core, the answer to the teen weight loss
issue is very simple... teens are overweight because they don't
get enough exercise, and they eat badly. But to get to the real
crux of the matter, we've got to examine the "issues surrounding
the issue"...
If
we are to address teen weight loss with any hope of success, we
must first look at the economic and social issues that only make
the situation worse...
First,
there's no doubt that the disappearance of physical exercise programs
and after school activities from the school curriculum must play
an important role in this. Extracurricular sporting activities are
expensive, and are first to fall by the wayside in times of budget
restraints. In numerous cases, teacher union and government clashes
have led to teachers refusing to volunteer their time as chaperones
for such activities. Students, in some cases, are no longer even
obliged to take physical education classes.
Secondly,
teens today are finding a greater part of their recreational time
being spent participating in sedentary activities. Television, computers,
the Internet (Ooops! ;-), and video games are taking the place of
vigorous physical activity.
Third,
parents are working longer and longer hours. Often there's no one
home to cook proper balanced meals. This leads to one of two situations...
Parents
alleviate their guilt for not being there by buying their teens
whatever they wish to eat. Or they allow junior to do his own cooking.
Neither situation is a good idea. Since most teens know or care
little about nutrition, popular dinners include pizza pops, fries,
pizza, and burgers. Breakfast consists of pop-tarts, and other high-sugar
products.
So
this problem is compounded by a diet filled with loads of fat, tons
of high glycemic carbs, and zillions of calories. If you eat like
this long enough... you'll get fat! Add to this the fact that developing
bodies need quality nutrition, the absence of a decent meal plan
could have lifelong repercussions. Parents, if you're buying your
kids this stuff, you're not doing them any favors.
Obviously,
this is a complex and involved issue... we've only touched the surface
here. But even complicated issues can have simple solutions! If
this is a concern of yours...
The
best bet is to ensure there are always nutritious meals available
for your teens - precook and freeze them if possible. Try to balance
nutritional meals with meals that your teens will enjoy. That's
important if you don't want to force feed your teen to eat. Stay
away from high carb favorites like pizza and fries, and cook lean
meat, poultry, fresh veggies, and salads. Dig out a cookbook, and
get creative!
For
accelerated teen weight loss, encourage your teen to join a club
or team that incorporates some sort of physical exercises/activity.
To
sum up, I'd say that unless a teen is severely overweight,weight
loss boils down to the very basics -- nutritious meals, and an active
lifestyle. If there's no genetic tendency for obesity, the problem
is likely as simple as it seems.
