Fighting overweight in adolescents can sometimes be difficult. Usually, children in their teens, especially between the ages of 16-19, have some freedom from their parents, so they can go anywhere they want with friends and other acquaintances. Most of the time they like to visit fast food restaurants when they are hungry and go to exciting places to have fun. The temptations of fast food treats can be overwhelming for hungry teens.
One of the main implications of constantly frequenting fast food restaurants can be seen in the weight of adolescents who constantly visit these restaurants. It cannot be denied, obesity and overweight are becoming problems of great concern for both parents and governments. Health professionals in the US believe that by the year 2030, 1 in 4 adolescents in the US will be overweight or obese. The solution to being overweight in adolescents does not only depend on parents, but adolescents also have an important role to play.
We all know that teenagers can sometimes be rebellious and downright stubborn with their parents. A teen may resent parental control guidelines and feel they are being treated unfairly or marginalized because of their overweight, this can be more frustrating, especially for busy parents who don’t have time to monitor their teens. One way to discourage your teen from frequenting fast food is to always have a healthy alternative at home. The best alternative in this case should be delicious and tasty meals prepared at home. In addition, a completely new family lifestyle and eating habit has to be introduced, if the family has not been having breakfast and dinner at home, this has to change.
Keep in mind that it won’t be easy to change your teen’s eating habits if they’ve already fallen in love with the junk food out there. Therefore, the first step will be to prepare your mind for the pending change by using moral suasion, a gentle suasion that describes the implications of being overweight and the deadly effects if it is not stopped. Teens may not really understand the health implications of this, as they may be overly concerned with their appearance, so it’s the parents’ job to inform them of the long-term health implications.
Parents should learn how to choose and prepare healthy foods, if your teen is a girl try to encourage her to be a part of the preparation process, even if teens show interest don’t discourage them. Whenever you are cooking, try to avoid frying, instead you can introduce broiling, toasting, steaming, and baking. Of course, fatty and sugary foods should be discouraged. Choose good carbohydrates like potatoes, bread, rice, spaghetti, pasta, etc. these can be prepared in very healthy and delicious ways to provide the necessary nutrients for your teens and young adults. If you need more information on how to help your overweight teen lose weight: If you are having trouble losing weight, you can visit: Okinawa Flat Belly