The most difficult time of life to lose weight is in your teen years. (Have you ever heard of “peer pressure”? It’s very real.)
Not only do young and adult teens have to cope with the pains of puberty and growing up, but if you are obese, or even moderately overweight, you often have to meet face to face with your detractors, weight-loss saboteurs and outright enemies, face to face on a daily basis. Although some children, can be supportive to weight-loss, just as many are bullies. It is true the same applies to adults. The teen “weight-loss victims” however, are more vulnerable. Most teenagers are not equipped to handle bullying and other forms of attack. So instead of being able to confront and resolve these hassles, instead of weight-loss they often seek solace in even more food.
Latest weight-loss statistics suggest that 15% of US teens are obese. A staggering figure, but it’s probably indicative of the state of the rest of the Western world. Obesity is a growing problem (if you pardon the pun).
I read recently the chapter in a book discussing obesity in teens. Unfortunately the author merely offers advice to the teenage readers as if they are robots, who can follow a set weight-loss formula of dieting and execising. This is to ignore the reality. Obese and overweight teens are not to be treated as weight-loss robots, but as vulnerable, highly sensitive and individual human beings. For this reason, to merely lecture on diet, exercise and relationships is to trivialise the sensitivity of the weight-loss dilema.
Let me hasten to add, it impossible in text alone to deal adequately with every obese teen seeking help. What can be done is to issue weight-loss guidance, and point out possible pathways to better health and body weight?
Let’s look at Harry, a 15 year old boy who is 30 kg overweight for his less than average height. Harry cannot recall ever being able to run at more than a moderate shuffle. Nor can he recall ever being completely happy. Harry is the laughing stock of the class because of his weight problem. What does this do to Harry I wonder? Will it affect his work in the class? His confidence with girls? His confidence with adults? His happiness? You betcha! Does it affect the way he eats. Yes, of course, because food is his principle enjoyment in life.
So what happens? Harry getters fatter and fatter.
What are we going to tell Harry? To eat less? To exercise more?
OK, no we are not. Will we tell him to seek surgery? I hope not.
So what are we going to advise him? Have you ever had a tougher question put to you about weight-loss?
A teenager in Harry’s position desperately needs weight-loss support, that is his first step forward.
More on “Teen Support” for weight-loss next time
To lose weight you first need a plan. Find a plan that might suit you, then compare it with my Five Factors. Many weight-loss products are useless.
Weight Wise Man
