Why Teens Should Not Diet

Teen at Weight Loss Camp |Food Variety- Pomegranate

Calorie deprivation during formative years can be detrimental to growth and development. Teach teens to eat a variety of unprocessed whole foods. Limit snack foods and fast food by not providing them at home. Happiness and energy increase along with clearer skin and sharper thinking. A sense of well-being hinges on good health and nutritional intake.

Starvation diets and extreme workout attempts to control weight are counter productive to weight control. Teaching teens to count calories does not teach nutritional quality and balance. All it teaches them is to deprive their body of sustenance long enough for the scales to display progress. Scale weight loss can be deceiving and should not be a barometer of health.

Mayo Clinic reports the health threatening consequences of teen malnutrition. Some of the risks can be life threatening. Such risks include delayed development, anemia, bone loss, heart problems, seizures and depression. According to the CDC Center for Disease Control, teen depression is a prevalent risk factor in teen suicide. Dieting can lower teen immunity and affect hormone levels causing depression.

Teen Weight Loss Camp-Fitness Training

Variety in diet and exercise are vital for optimal health. Few people can eat the same foods and perform the same activities without becoming bored. That goes double for teens. Boredom with food selection can likely lead to binging on unhealthy choices.

Teaching your teen to make good choices and to prepare their own meals puts them in charge. Encourage your teen to prepare a favorite recipe for friends and family. Bring them to the grocery store with you to educate them on reading food labels. Alert them to check favorite snacks for high sugar and sodium.

Teen Weight Loss Camp -Bean Sprouts

If your teen has a weight problem that is out of control, take a grassroots approach at home. Support healthy eating in the home for all members of the family. Good nutrition is not just for weight loss. Avoid bringing unhealthy food and drinks into the home. Set the example for all household members to follow. Establish a lifestyle that supports everyone.

Habits are hard to change. Consider sending your teen to a class or summer weight loss camp that offers hands-on training in the kitchen.