Teen Weight Loss
by Peter Mann
Kids Join Boot Camp To Lose Weight
If your teenager has a weight problem, it will not normally just go away and a youngster may need help sooner rather than later; these conditions are now affecting people of increasingly younger age groups.
Teens more than adults need that self confidence which normally comes with age and it doesn't take much to undermine what little self-esteem they do have. Increasingly young people with a problem are being enrolled into teen weight loss programs often referred to as 'boot camps'.
In fact not only can this affect their wellbeing as youngsters it can have grave repercussions for them in their future adult life, both mentally and physically. Unfortunately being overweight can lead to major future health problems including:
- Heart disease
- Blood and circulatory conditions
- Late onset diabetes
- Hormone abnormalities
Education on teen weight loss is an important step to help stop this from happening. Mentally, the repercussions are probably more obvious because who doesn't remember an overweight child at school that got saddled with some of those awful nicknames like fatty, piggy, porky and tubby plus many more that were even less courteous.
Unfortunately, these names seem to stick with the person all their life and even if they are successful at controlling their weight problem, names seem to stay which is another blow to the persons self image. Often, overweight teens are a product of parents that are overweight but if you do not have this problem then it can be difficult to know what to do when your son or daughter seems to be piling on the pounds.
Unfortunately, the numbers of teens who desperately need to lose weight is increasing and has become a global problem despite the number of companies that are promoting products to help lose weight; even though many of them make false claims.
It must be instilled early on that teen weight loss programs are not just about losing weight but about the reduction of body fat which is the main problem to overcome. The first thing a parent should be aware of is the tendency to overreact and if this happens the child will pickup on your concern because becoming overweight did not happen overnight; likewise the problem is not going to go away overnight either.
Other than carrying out some research of their own on the subject, a concerned parent needs to seek medical advice, preferably someone who specializes in teen weight loss; programs should be chosen carefully for their effectiveness otherwise money can be lost and children can lose heart.
It is important not to rush into a teen weight loss program that requires massive weight loss without strict supervision, as they can be more dangerous than the excess weight. Whilst 'starvation diets' can work often body mass is lost from the muscles and not for the areas that require trimming down; this can result in problems with muscles growth.
The best way to proceed is by education, both for the parents and the teen so that losing fat is the prime concern, as losing excess weight will follow.
Peter Mann is a weight loss expert and Author of the very popular Guide To Help Teenagers Lose Weight.