What not to say to help your teen lose weight – CBS News

If you want your teen to lose weight, the American Academy
of Pediatrics has some advice: Don’t tell them that.

Doing so may raise their risk of developing unhealthy habits or even an eating disorder, the
AAP states in new recommendations published online this week.

“The focus should be on a healthy lifestyle rather than on
weight,” the report, which will appear in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics,
reads.

About 35 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. are classified as
overweight or obese, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, eating disorders are also a big problem. In fact,
they are the third most common chronic condition in adolescents after obesity
and asthma, the AAP points out. And overweight teens can be more at risk than parents might think.

Young people who lose large amounts of weight through unhealthy eating behaviors such as extreme low-calorie fad diets, purging after meals, or abuse of laxatives, can end up facing an array of health problems. Dangerous consequences can include hypothermia (lower-than-normal body temperature),
bradycardia (an abnormally slow heart rate), hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure), acute
pancreatitis, and gallstones.

In the new recommendations, the AAP says that commenting on
weight – their appearance or the number on a scale – when talking to teens can be harmful and may even lead to these very behaviors.

“Understanding that poor body image can lead to an ED [eating disorder],
parents should avoid comments about body weight and discourage dieting efforts
that may inadvertently result in EDs and body dissatisfaction,” the AAP says.

To combat this, pediatricians – and parents – should focus on instilling healthy habits in teens.

Kristi King, a senior dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital
and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dietetics, said that the AAP
guidelines are very much in line with what she sees play out in pediatricians’ offices on a daily basis.

“I frequently find in practice that when families and/or a
pediatrician is very weight-focused, the child or teen tends to become very
fixated on reaching a certain weight point,” she told CBS News. “Most of the
time, it is a weight point that they think sounds ‘good’ and isn’t necessarily
what may actually be healthy for their height, age, activity level, etc. 
This can lead to very unhealthy lifestyle habits in order for them to reach
that weight point.”

In contrast, the patients she sees who tend to have the
best outcomes are the ones whose families focus on overall healthy habits.

King recommends encouraging a positive body image, asking kids
how they feel about their bodies, and discussing the importance of all food
groups in their daily lives.

Avoid using words like “diet,” “fat,” and “goal weight.”

“Focusing on weight – even little comments such as ‘Ooh, I see
a little tummy pouch there’ – can be damaging,” King said.

She offers the following tips for parents to encourage a healthy lifestyle in teens:

• Watch
  your words. Kids and teens are very perceptive. If they hear parents say
  from an early age things like “I hate my fat thighs,” they will be more attuned
  to looking for the negatives in themselves. Words can leave emotional
  scars, so be cautious of saying things such as “you’re lazy” or “you’re fat.”

• Aim for
  at least one family meal per day. If you find family dinner isn’t
  always feasible due to extracurricular activities or an otherwise busy schedule,
  aim for family breakfast. It might mean getting up a few minutes earlier, but
  it still accomplishes the same goals.

• Have
  fruits and vegetables readily available on the counter or fridge. Leave them
  washed and at eye level so it’s easy for kids to grab and go. 

• Get kids
  involved in the kitchen. Even if you as a parent “can’t cook,” think
  of this as an opportunity to learn together. Start by shopping and picking
  out new healthy foods to try. Get in the kitchen and try a new recipe
  together. Not only will you will be teaching skills, you’ll be making
  great memories together.

• Take the
  TV out of your kids’ room. Many children and teens tend to eat and watch TV
  in their rooms. Taking the TV out will limit their screen time and
  encourage more family time.

• Schedule physical activity as part of your family’s routine. Make walks, runs, games,
  bike rides, or hikes part of your weekly schedule. This sets a great
  example that being active is part of a healthy lifestyle.

• Be a good
  role model. If you want your kid to eat their veggies that means you need
  to eat them, too. If you want them to exercise​, they’ve got to see you
  doing it. 

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