Avoiding obesity in the teen years

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

02 Jul 2009 10:17 AM

By the time your kids get to their teens years, they have taken over control of their schedules, and keeping them active is a feat of monstrous proportions. With today's' technological advancements, they are much more content to stay inside than we were at their age. They are attached to their computers, video games, and cell phones. There is no need to visit with friends or to go outside and play.

Back when I was a teen, I walked two miles to the library, or a half mile to my friends house and then took the stairs to her fourth floor apartment. We then went to the park, ran down the big hill, and sat on the bleachers to talk. My brother could never be found. We never knew whose house he was at or what he was into. As long as he was home by 6pm for dinner, no one really worried about it. Today my daughter downloads books and texts her girlfriends. My son on the other hand can always be found during his free time though he won't answer you if you call his name. Where my brother used to complain of various aches and pains from rough play with his friends, by son complains of aching wrists.

You can see that I am concerned about the activity level of my kids, or rather the lack of activity. Avoiding obesity should be as easy as sending them outside, like my parents sent us, but it's not. Teens don't congregate the way we did. When I do get my kids to go outside, they are typically the only ones out there. Everyone in their age range is either at a camp, or inside on video games or the computer. So what is a parent to do?

One thing we are doing to prevent obesity is watching our diet. I say our because you can't make teens do something you are not willing to do yourself. We have to cut out sugar, and start all of our meals with a salad or fruit course. Still this is not enough. Being sedentary does nothing for your physique, regardless of how wise your eating habits are.

What we are actively doing is finding venues for the kids to do active things that they like. A month in a camp with a dance and drama emphasis not only got my took a few inches off my daughter's her waste but upped her overall activity level that continues now that the camp is over. My son is a harder nut to crack, but we use the dogs to force him into activity. Long walks and even short runs and very necessary to keep the dogs healthy, and well, someone has to take them on these outings. A my son is the main caregiver, the bulk of this activity goes to him. In addition, my husband works out with him a couple of times a week because, like I said, as teens we can't make them do something we are not willing to do.

This may not sound like alot, but we also have to be careful to not give them a bad self image and make them think of themselves as overweight or fat. We certainly don't want them to go in the opposite extreme and become anorexic as is so common in teenagers.

Also read:

Phelps Promotes Kids Fitness

New York Ramping Up Fitness for School Kids

A New Way to Fight Childhood Obesity

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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shawspear (435) 03 Jul 2009 06:48 AM

. . . I say risk it. It's a big risk I know: telling her about fat. And I mean starting at a very young age. Many though would harshly disapprove of my suggestion. You may turn her the other way and cause her to become obsessed with being thin. That's the risk. But so too is being overweight. Can you see it in their faces? The fat ones I mean. I can. Being overweight is devastating to a young girl and a young woman although they'll hide their true feelings about it. No dad wants to see his little girl hurt and being fat in American culture causes immense hurt to a woman. Yeah, I'd risk it alright, at a very young age too but I'd do my best to present it in a way that keeps her from going the other way.

Andrea Hermitt (5507) 03 Jul 2009 07:03 AM

I sincerely hope that the consensus is to not agree with the commenter... for two reasons.

First, they only mention the overweight girl... what about male kids. In my case, my son is having much more of a struggle.

Second, anorexia is more deadly that being overweight. It is not worth the risk.

shawspear (435) 03 Jul 2009 09:40 AM

. . . figured you wouldn't like it . . .

I realize it's a problem for both; I'm just talking about the girls that's all. I believe if the problem were presented appropriately, she would grow up smart enough to resist both extremes. The other way is a subject I feel strongly about and believe if mom and dad took more interest in the matter, we'd have less problems with it particularly girls but dad, he's the key with that one but try getting him to do something about it . . . just exactly what are "wintergirls" dad?