Help your teen maintain a healthy weight

Encourage your child to adopt a healthy lifestyle to manage their weight.  

Many teenagers struggle to express their feelings. Most of their behaviour, including overeating and self-harm, is related to this inability to express their emotions in a constructive way, says Daleen Macklin, a clinical psychologist at Mediclinic Denmar Mental Health Services in Pretoria

“Obesity is about managing difficult feelings. Often it is not hunger but an emotional trigger, like boredom, sadness or anger, that sets off the overeating,” she adds. Teenagers also struggle with relationships, especially parental and family relationships. Macklin says difficulties in these relationships can also lead to overeating.

“Teenagers need a lot of support and guidance to become independent. As a parent, you need to be a positive role model when it comes to body image and physical activity.” When teenagers are left to their own devices and have to struggle alone with these difficult feelings, they may turn to unhealthy methods to try to remedy the situation. “Children will learn from parents who follow a balanced diet, are active and have a positive body image.”

Foster a positive body image

Parents can learn not to criticise their teens. “Telling them they are picking up weight or are fat will make them feel bad about themselves Macklin says. warning that one needs to be very cautious of commenting on a child’s body.

Help your teen develop a positive body image by focusing on their strengths and abilities, rather than just their appearance.  “It is so important for parents to help foster self-compassion and self-acceptance in their children,” she adds. “If a child is uncomfortable with their body and they have an open relationship with their parents, they can discuss the issue together and ways to deal with it”.

What is a healthy lifestyle for teens?

Staying active forms part of a healthy lifestyle. Encourage your children to exercise with your – dancing, jogging, doing a sport or going for a walk, for example. Getting healthy and active together is also a wonderful bonding opportunity for the two of you.

“If you are concerned about your child’s weight, raise the importance of a healthy lifestyle and adopting a balanced approach,” she says. “If there is an open discussion about weight, you can ask your teen what they need from you and how you can give them support.” The worst thing to do is to put them on a strict diet. It is about balance.”

To help teenagers make healthy food choices, you can also suggest cooking meals together. “Sitting together at a table for meals and eating as a family offers a fixed structure,” syas Macklin. “It also offers an opportunity for children to participate in meal preparation and for family members to connect. Meals are a good time to focus on the making healthy choices, and emphasise the importance of self-care.”

If there is a serious problem, however, and a child is unable to climb stairs or participate in sport, for example, then parents should seek professional help and guidance from a dietitian/nutritionist and therapist.

Professional intervention is very important if there is an underlying emotional issue for the overeating, like bipolar mood disorder or depression.  as many of the medications used for treatment cause weight gain, Macklin says.