Top 10 weight loss tips for teens





According to the American Obesity Association, 30.4 percent of children ages 12 to 19 are considered overweight, 15.5 percent are classified as obese and the prevalence of obesity within this age group has more than doubled over the past 25 years. Yet, there is hope.

“The good news is that adolescents can achieve a healthy weight by making simple lifestyle changes,” said Lisa Talamini, RD, vice president of research and program innovation for Jenny Craig Inc. “And if they maintain these positive eating and exercise behaviors as adults, they can avoid developing high blood pressure and other obesity-related medical conditions.”

Here are some of Talamini’s top tips for teens:

•Plan to be active every day. Enjoy fun activities with friends such as volleyball, dancing, tennis and biking. A day of shopping at the mall can also burn calories.

•When eating out with friends, teens can use the time to get filled in on each other’s news, without “filling out” on food they may not need.

•Watch portion sizes and try to make lower-fat/lower-calorie selections. At a fastfood restaurant, pair a small burger with a veggie-packed side salad and lightly drizzle fatfree or reducedfat dressing on top.

•Get a groove on and get a great workout with “Dance Dance Revolution” on a gaming console. Walk, run and dance to favorite iPod tunes.

•Ask parents to stock the refrigerator with ready-to-eat fruits, salads and raw veggies. Sliced carrots, celery and green peppers are delicious when dipped lightly in fat-free dip, salsa or low-fat hummus. Replace family-size bags of chips or crackers with 100-calorie snack bags for instant portion control.

•Trade calorie-rich sports drinks, sugary juice drinks and sodas for zero-calorie flavored waters and diet sodas.

•Avoid the temptation to look like fashion models or popular actresses who may be at unrealistic body weights. Find a healthy weight range and celebrate the unique, beautiful body that each person has.

•Eat “across the rainbow” of colorful fruits and vegetables for a wide variety of healthenhancing nutrients.

•Small changes can reap big results. By eating 100 fewer calories every day, a person can lose 10 pounds in a year.

•Don’t think of this as “dieting.” Instead, view it as creating positive eating and exercise behaviors that can help a teen develop a healthier, happier lifestyle.

This story is provided by North American Precis Syndicate Inc.


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