The fight against being 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 the adolescents who constantly visit these restaurants. There is no denying that obesity and overweight are becoming problems of great concern to 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 adolescent overweight does not only depend on parents, but also adolescents have an important role to play.
We all know that teenagers can sometimes be rebellious and downright stubborn with parents. A teen may resent parental control and feel unfairly treated or marginalized because of being overweight, which 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 foods is to always have a healthy alternative at home. The best alternative in this case must be the 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 eating breakfast and dinner at home, this has to change.
Keep in mind that it won’t be easy to change your teens’ eating habits if they’ve already fallen in love with the junk food out there. So the first step will be to prepare your mind for the pending change by employing moral suasion, gentle suasion that describes the implications of being overweight and the deadly effects if you don’t stop. Teenagers may not really understand the health implications of this, as they may be too concerned with their appearance, so it is the parents’ job to inform them of the long-term health implications.
Parents need to 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 grilling, 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