Adolescent Obesity In America: Obesity In Adolescence
Food And Feelings
Adolescent obesity is a physical and emotional health problem that affects millions of children in America. You may be wondering how can obesity be something emotional when it is clearly something physical? An element of obesity that we usually don’t see or understand is the emotional aspects of a child. Obesity is not merely a physical disorder but psychological as well. There are many obese children of all ages who are walking around these days due to physical as well as emotional and psychological factors. Let’s read on and find out more about this epidemic.
Adolescent Obesity: Teens And Emotional Issues
Childhood obesity is generated from three main factors; the eating lifestyle of the family as a whole, lack of physical activity, and emotional imbalances of the child.
For instance, if a child is not eating natural, whole foods, and does not get very much exercise, their chances of being overweight doubles. And if the child is having emotional issues in school or at home, the chances of being overweight will be triple fold.
Most overweight teens generally have a low self-esteem and tend to gravitate toward eating to help with their esteem issues. But it is a vicious cycle for the teenager who has not been taught healthy eating habits when they were young.
Overly processed packaged foods are not the answer to childhood obesity. What is the answer is having healthy foods around the home for the child to eat when they feel like eating.
We can’t stop our children from eating when they are hungry, but we can stop them from eating foods that cause excess weight gain. Most teens go through emotional ups and downs from time to time.
Parents should be there for their teens to help them through the tough years of growing up. Some teens are challenged more emotionally, and one of the main reasons for that is their eating lifestyle.
Adolescent Obesity: Bad Foods Linked To Emotional Issues
When a child overeats on processed foods they aren’t hungry for anything healthy. Now when a child eats like this every single day they will eventually become vitamin deficient. Many young overweight teenagers are just that – vitamin deficient.
This is “why” they become moody, sassy, angry, withdrawn, low self-image, hyperactive, lack attention and focus, talkative, and obese. Hormones are all out of balance in a child who is mineral deficient.
Adolescent obesity is a family affair and to treat childhood obesity it should also be a family affair. The best way to manage emotional issues and obesity is through food. Changing the eating habits of the whole family needs to be accomplished.
Another great way to help the obese child is to incorporate a walking routine, and or back yard sports activity that the whole family can get involved in. Once the child is on a healthy eating schedule, he or she should begin to feel better emotionally and be more in control of their emotions.
Adolescent Obesity: Dieting and Teenage Obesity
Dieting and teenagers do not mix. The reason I say this are many. For one thing, if a teenager is overweight it has something to do with “what” they are eating more than “how much” they are eating. Who prepares the meals in the home? Who shops for the groceries for the home? These are the things that need to be addressed first and foremost.
Unless the teenager has done an extensive study on dieting, especially about how to maintain nutrition in their diet while dieting, they should not go on a reducing calorie diet.
The best way to help the overweight child in your home is to cook more whole, balanced meals and stop buying processed foods that are deficient in vitamins and that only make the child gain weight.
Source: http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/obesity_in_children_and_teens
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