Today’s adolescent generation faces many challenges that past generations didn’t face, childhood obesity is one of them. Factors such as the provision of unhealthy school snacks and increased access to sugary snacks can be obstacles for teens to make health conscious decisions. As a result, we are seeing more adolescents put on excess weight which can lead to increased risk of health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Obesity prevention starts from the home, so it is important to parents to ensure that they are providing balanced meals and teaching them about making healthier choices before teenagers have fully formed a habit around food. Here, in this article, we will explore today’s widespread presence of teen obesity as well as effective tips suggested by a bariatric surgeon in Ahmedabad for parents to prevent excessive weight among children and adolescents.
Tips for obesity prevention:
Obesity among teenagers is a significant health issue concerned from long term implications for their well being. Today, one in five teens is considered of obese, and this number continues to rise. Unhealthy school lunches, the availability of sugary snacks, and lack of physical activities may lead to the problem. Furthermore, excessive pressure in many teens from peers or social media to be slim which may lead them to develop unhealthy eating habits such as skipping meals or extreme exercise patterns rather than focusing on healthy eating habits. So, what do parents need to do to prevent obesity? Don’t worry!! Here are some healthy habits suggested by an obesity surgeon that may help to prevent this worldwide issue.
- Encourage Healthy Eating Habits:
Educate teenagers about the significance of maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. By restricting consumption of the intake of sugary drinks, fast food, and processed foods can significantly reduce calorie intake, fostering healthy eating habits. It is important to encourage them to try different foods and flavours, without pressuring them to eat something they don’t like.
- Promote Regular Physical Activity:
Motivating teenagers to participate in regular physical activity for a minimum 60 minutes each day is important. Sedentary lifestyle in which you take more calories every day that you may burn through exercise and routine daily activities. This may include activities they enjoy, such as biking, dancing, sports, or walking, which can foster a positive attitude towards exercise. Making exercise fun and social can increase adherence.
- Limit Screen Time:
Today’s teenagers frequently spend most of their time on screens like phones, televisions, or computers which can lead to excessive snacking and less physical exercising. To counteract this trend, it is important to promote outdoor activities such as biking or joining sports teams. Encourage teens to engage.
- Address Emotional Eating:
Assisting teens to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress, anxiety,and other emotional triggers for overeating is important. Teach them to tune between their body’s signals so that they don’t overeat or restrictive eating patterns, ensuring they receive adequate nutrients. Also, teach them how to differentiate between hunger and craving so that they can make a healthier choice when it comes to snacking throughout the day. Encouraging open communication about feelings and providing support when needed.
- Promote Family Meal:
Promoting regular family meals whenever possible can have numerous benefits for adolescents and their families. Eating together encourages bonding and strengthens family connections. Moreover, family meals offer an ideal setting to model and reinforce healthy eating habits. By sharing meals, parents can observe balanced food choice and portion control, which can positively affect teenagers dietary choices and behaviours.
- Provide Education And Support:
Providing educational resources and support groups for teenagers and their families is essential in addressing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyle. This can include nutritional counselling, cooking classes and behavioural therapy who can offer personalised guidance of dietary choice and meal planning. Moreover, encouraging families to cook meals at home rather than eating out or pre-packaged foods. Cooking at home allows a family to have a great control over the ingredients in use, making it an easier to nutritious option, also teaching teenagers to teach them valuable skills and increase a sense of ownership over their food.
- Lead By Example:
As adults, it is important to lead by example and encourage healthy behaviours for teenagers to emulate. This includes integrating healthy eating habits and regular exercise into our own routine. By prioritising nutritious food choice and physical activity as an important part of our routine, we show teens the importance of taking care of our body.
- Monitor Progress And Celebrate Success:
Keeping track of health goals and celebrating success no matter how small is an important part of maintaining motivation and commitment, especially for teenagers starting lifestyle changes. By regularly monitoring their achievements, teens can see the solid results of their efforts, which serves as a powerful motivator to continue their healthy habits.
- Address Medical Issues:
Identifying and addressing underlying medical issues that may contribute to obesity is important for managing the conditions in teenagers. Conditions such as hormonal imbalances or sleep disorders can significantly impact weight regulation and may require specialised medical intervention.Collaborating with bariatric surgeon in ahmedabad, including physicians, dietitians, obesity surgeon and psychologists, can provide comprehensive care for obese teens.
Conclusion:
By following these steps , parents can play an important role in preventing teens obesity and promote their lifestyle healthier. Although it can be difficult to encourage healthy habits in teenagers may pose challenges, Parents should remember that their influence can make a huge difference. Through encouraging healthy behaviours, and engaging open conversations about well-being, parents can set their teens to success. If you have any questions about obesity or ways to treat it, contact our best obesity surgeon.
