Friday, October 17, 2008

Weight Loss And Teenagers, How to do it Right

By Ricardo d Argence

The subject of youth and dieting is very controversial. Obesity in children and teens is now at its peak in the Western world, and it is now that reality discerns the eating disorders and their unrealistic ideals cannot be ignored. Some teens really do need to lose weight but many do not. Since most children should avoid a strict weight-loss plan, reducing weight gain is possible through meal planning with common sense and getting consistent physical activity.

If a child consumes more food and calories than is required by their energy allowance, than those excess calories are converted to fat for storage. Conversely, if a child consumes less food and calories than is required by their energy allowance, than their body fat is converted to energy for the needed calories.

What can you do to improve a physique that may not be perfect? Almost everyone would like to change their weight or body fat percentage a little bit, how is this done? Can you really change the shape of your body?

Of course you can change your body, but how much depends on a number of things. Keep in mind that some of them you can control and some you can't.

Puberty. Though you may not realize it, puberty can have a major affect on your weight and the shape of your body. Both girls and boys can expect to gain weight as well as height during puberty. Hormones released during this time often cause boys to gain muscle and girls to experience an increase in body fat. These changes are normal but may make you feel like you're overweight, even if you're not.

Genes. One question I hear a lot is, Why don't I look like my friends? One reason is your genes. You inherit a number of things from your parents such as where you store excess fat on your body, how tall you are, and the shape of your body. In fact, if your parents are overweight, that increases the risk that you'll be overweight as well.

What you eat. You can't do anything about the gift of genes from your parents, but you can do a lot about what you put into your body as fuel. Choosing fried foods and foods filled with sugar instead of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains leads to lots of calories, but very little nutrition.

It is important to determine if you have an unrealistic concept of your body image or are truly overweight before starting an attempt to lose weight. Other people around you may also be able to help you decide whether weight loss is a good idea for you depending on your situation. - 15359

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