Teenage Obesity
The problem of teenage obesity is serious and on the rise in America today. It is estimated that 19 million American children aged 6-19, are overweight or obese.
Teenage obesity is diagnosed using the body mass index, or BMI. Generally, a BMI over 30 means the teenager is obese. Once this diagnosis is made, medical tests are done to determine the overall health of the teen, because teenage obesity can increase the risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other serious conditions.
Causes of Teenage Obesity
Teenage obesity is caused when a teen eats more calories than they burn off. That's the biology of it. But there are many contributing factors that make certain teenagers more likely to be obese:
• Genetics play a role in teenage obesity. A teenager with obese parents is 48 percent more likely to become obese than a teen with parents who are not obese.
• Socioeconomic status is another risk factor when it comes to teenage obesity. It is common knowledge that poor, undereducated teenagers are more likely to become obese. Statistics show a high correlation between social status and obesity, and teenage obesity is even more common in minority groups.
• Lifestyle probably plays the biggest role in teenage obesity. A teenager who eats high- calorie foods and gets little to no physical exercise every day will be much more likely to become obese. Many families eat on the run, and this usually means eating foods with a lot of fat and sugar. Adding to that fact, society in general is more sedentary today than it ever has been, so there is not enough physical activity going on to burn off all of the high-energy food that is being consumed.
Symptoms of Teenage Obesity
The most obvious sign that a teenager is obese will be their appearance. If they look fat, then they may be obese, but this can only be properly diagnosed by a doctor. Other symptoms of teenage obesity include:
• uneven appearance of facial features
• breast development in young men
• excess fat in abdomen, upper arms and thighs
• small appearance of external genitals in males
Treatment of Teenage Obesity
Teenage obesity is a serious condition, and it requires attention while the child is young! Defeating the problem of obesity will only get harder as the teenager turns into an adult. A diagnosis of obesity can only be made by a physician, and the treatment should also be done under the supervision of the teen's doctor. Here are some common treatments for teenage obesity:
• consultation with a nutritionist
• following a healthy and balanced eating plan
• regular exercise, designed according the teen's particular needs
• behavioral changes and possibly behavioral therapy
• individual psychotherapy or group therapy
The important thing about treating teenage obesity is to keep it realistic. There is no miracle weight loss program. It takes time and dedication, but it can be done.