Diet For Teenagers - 3 Things Every Parent Needs to Know

Overview

In this article you'll discover three things every parent must know about a diet for teenagers before letting their child begin. Girls may be more likely to diet than boys, but all teenagers are acutely aware of their body image. Most teenagers have tried fad dieting on their own, and the effects are often disappointing and cause further weight gain.

A negative body image will affect everything about your teenager's behavior. It may lead to classic low self-esteem, anger, frustration, and other serious emotional problems that aren't strictly related to physical health. Read on to find out more about the motivations your teenager may have for losing weight.

Motivations for Losing Weight

It's normal to compare ourselves to our peers in many respects, the most direct way being physical appearance. Even if your teenager isn't actually overweight, they may still think or feel that they're not an adequate weight because they're unfairly comparing themselves to other students with different body types.

Losing weight may be driven by social pressure in an attempt to fit in with a group, or attract the attention of members of the opposite sex. Knowing the reasons for losing weight and turning negative motivators such as peer pressure into positive motivators like improved well-being can make the task of losing weight more enjoyable.

Knowing your teenager's personal motivations for losing weight may be challenging, but helping them identify their motivations will give them a clear reason for making changes to their lifestyle habits.

The Burden of Responsibility

As a parent you'll naturally want to help your child lose weight, but it's critical that you don't try to force them into anything. You may be legally responsible for them, but ultimately they will be responsible for their actions.

You can help by being supportive and offering suggestions, but realize that the responsibility to eat better and exercise is theirs. If you've lost weight in the past, don't assume that what worked for you will work for them. Allow your teenager to take responsibility for their weight loss, and if they're self-motivated they may be capable of losing weight on their own.

Designing a Unique Diet

The last, and arguably most important thing you need to know about is the diet itself. There are literally hundreds of thousands of diets, but how can any diet be perfect for everyone? The simple answer, of course, is that there is no perfect diet.

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