Obesity is no longer considered just a sorry condition for one to be in. It is almost an accepted way of life. WebMd states that 12.5-million youth and children are overweight. These young people are at a higher risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes at a younger age and other health problems that older adults usually get. What this means: today’s young people have a life expectancy that is shorter than their parents’.
Overall, Oregon is #29 in the list of the fattest states in the US. Portland teens, however, are included in the fact that the US has the highest percentage of overweight teens in the world.
How can Portland parents help their teen that needs to lose weight?
• Be supportive: don’t expect your teen to change his or her eating habits and lifestyle alone. Parents will need to modify their habits, too, to show change can be achieved.
• Involve teens in the weight loss process: help teens decide what food choices should be on the family shopping list. Help them set realistic, healthy weight-loss goals.
• Don’t nag or put-down: help your teen feel motivated to make decisions for themselves. Nagging or negative comments can lead to a low self-esteem and worse.
• Empower your teen with motivation and focus on their strengths and talents.
• Active parents=active kids: limit the amount of time the family sits in front of the TV or computer.
• Make healthy choices a way of life. Teens go to school on a regular occasion, shower daily (hopefully), sleep every day, etc. so it is important that exercise become one of those regular thing they would just do every day.
• Drink less soda: one can of soda has 15 teaspoons of sugar in it. What is your teen drinking that has most of its calories coming from sugar?
• Stock the kitchen with healthy snacks. When a teen craves something sweet or salty to munch on, they will have better choices at their fingertips. One way to get a person to eat less junk food is to not buy junk food.
• Incorporate more fruits, veggies, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy products into a teen’s diet. These foods are more filling and satisfying than many other foods that have empty calories.
• Encourage breakfast. Many times sleeping-in trumps breakfast. However, teens need that boost in the morning to help them jump-start their brains and metabolism. Breakfast can be as simple as some fruits and nuts.
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