Body Image and Obesity
How You Can Help Your Teen Have a Positive Body Image?
Dramatic physical changes are the hallmark of adolescence and they are enormously significant to your teen. They signify that he or she is 'normal', developing in step with peers. Teenagers are actually so sensitive to signs of physical growth and sexual development that it will affect their relationships, especially with those who mature very early, or very late.
Generally, girls begin puberty an average of two years earlier than boys. During early adolescence, most girls experience a rapid growth spurt, changes in fat distribution, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as pubic hair and breasts.
For most boys, the early adolescent period marks only the beginning of the biological changes of puberty, marked by rapid growth, increased abdominal fat deposits, testicular growth, voice changes and the development of acne, pubic hair and nocturnal emissions. Since many young adolescents are unaware that the onset of puberty varies greatly, they need reassurance that their own rates of growth and development are normal. Providing them with authoritative information about the nature and progression of physiological changes can be very helpful.
Many adolescents, preoccupied with their attractiveness, will try to change their appearance through dieting or consumer fad food products. As extreme reactions, anorexia and bulimia occasionally develop in adolescence, especially among females. Males, on the other hand, are more likely to use supplements and steroids for building muscle. While some teens exercise regularly and develop bodies that are extremely fit, many remain sedentary and have poor eating habits and physical fitness. These early behaviours can be predictors of fitness in later life.
Obesity in Adolescence
There is an increasingly alarming trend toward obesity across North America. Occasionally parents blame their child's obesity on a medical problem (such as thyroid disease), but the true cause usually lies elsewhere. Fewer than 1 percent of obese people suffer from a hormonal imbalance or underlying medical condition.
While no one reason explains the phenomenon of obesity, likely causes include genetics, poor nutrition, bad eating habits and lack of exercise. How much heredity contributes to the problem is controversial. Even if a child inherits genes that predispose to obesity, environmental factors such as a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits must usually also be present for obesity to occur.
There are many things parents can do to help. First, get the advice of your physician to determine whether there is a problem and, if so, how serious it is. People's bodies vary and some may appear overweight, compared to their friends, in spite of being well within a normal range. Once the situation has been assessed, and a plan is set, you can help to support it. Remember, a reasonable goal for an adolescent is not to lose weight, but to slow weight gain so that they will eventually grow into their weight.
Generally, girls begin puberty an average of two years earlier than boys. During early adolescence, most girls experience a rapid growth spurt, changes in fat distribution, and the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as pubic hair and breasts.
For most boys, the early adolescent period marks only the beginning of the biological changes of puberty, marked by rapid growth, increased abdominal fat deposits, testicular growth, voice changes and the development of acne, pubic hair and nocturnal emissions. Since many young adolescents are unaware that the onset of puberty varies greatly, they need reassurance that their own rates of growth and development are normal. Providing them with authoritative information about the nature and progression of physiological changes can be very helpful.
Many adolescents, preoccupied with their attractiveness, will try to change their appearance through dieting or consumer fad food products. As extreme reactions, anorexia and bulimia occasionally develop in adolescence, especially among females. Males, on the other hand, are more likely to use supplements and steroids for building muscle. While some teens exercise regularly and develop bodies that are extremely fit, many remain sedentary and have poor eating habits and physical fitness. These early behaviours can be predictors of fitness in later life.
Obesity in Adolescence
There is an increasingly alarming trend toward obesity across North America. Occasionally parents blame their child's obesity on a medical problem (such as thyroid disease), but the true cause usually lies elsewhere. Fewer than 1 percent of obese people suffer from a hormonal imbalance or underlying medical condition.
While no one reason explains the phenomenon of obesity, likely causes include genetics, poor nutrition, bad eating habits and lack of exercise. How much heredity contributes to the problem is controversial. Even if a child inherits genes that predispose to obesity, environmental factors such as a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits must usually also be present for obesity to occur.
There are many things parents can do to help. First, get the advice of your physician to determine whether there is a problem and, if so, how serious it is. People's bodies vary and some may appear overweight, compared to their friends, in spite of being well within a normal range. Once the situation has been assessed, and a plan is set, you can help to support it. Remember, a reasonable goal for an adolescent is not to lose weight, but to slow weight gain so that they will eventually grow into their weight.
- Give unconditional love and support. No matter how much a person weighs, they need to know that they are loved and valued. Do what you can to build self-esteem and emphasize positive traits.
- Recent studies show a relationship between screen time and obesity. For some teens, excessive screen time substitutes for more active pursuits. Negotiate to set limits; lowering screen time, especially among overweight and obese adolescents, can contribute to reducing the prevalence of adolescent obesity.
- Look at family eating patterns. Examine what is in your refrigerator, your cupboards and your pantry. Cut down on non-nutritious junk food and resist requests to buy more. Strive to prepare low-fat, high fiber foods.
- Do not try to put your teen on a diet. Restricting calories often backfires, and may be potentially dangerous. Instead, move the family focus away from calorie-rich food, toward healthy nutrition.
- Eliminate between-meal snacking or provide limited, nutritious snacks. Make mealtime pleasant, and do not pressure children to eat when they are not hungry.
- Avoid serving "family style", since food placed in the center of a table tends to be eaten less consciously.
- Never use food as a bribe or punishment; this sends the message that certain foods (cookies, ice cream, etc.) are more valuable and are attached to love and approval.
- Consider making a new household rule--no eating anywhere in the house except at the dining table. This will help everyone set limits on their consumption.
- We have a responsibility to protect our children from the physical and psychological harm caused by being overweight. By establishing healthy eating and exercise patterns, parents can help defeat the trend towards obesity.
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french toll free 1.800.561.1128
TTY 1.888.234.0414
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