Originally published June 16 2005
Obese kids and teens can't be forced to lose weight, authors say
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A recent article in USA Today said that according to weight loss offers, kids cannot be forced to lose weight; parents must help them not by browbeating or humiliating them, but by setting a good example and providing better portion control and healthy food varieties.
That's the advice of several authors who have interviewed children, parents and experts for their new books about weight loss.
"I would not use the word 'dieting' --- ever," says Abby Ellin, 37, a freelance writer in New York and author of Teenage Waistland: A Former Fat Kid Weighs In on Living Large, Losing Weight and How Parents Can (and Can't) Help.
"Don't use shame, fear or humiliation as motivation for weight loss.
"It just makes kids feel worse, and it causes them to rebel."
Instead, she says, "with younger children, the most important thing a parent can do is model healthy behavior: eating right, exercising and demonstrating a positive attitude by caring for themselves at any size.
That's more important than lobbying school boards about sodas, or taxes on Twinkies, or shipping them off to fat camp."
Fostering an environment in which it's easier to have self-control helps, she says.
Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, is the author of I'm, Like, So Fat!
"There is a lot parents can do --- modeling healthy behaviors, offering more fruits and vegetables, providing appropriate-sized portions, limiting sweets, not keeping soft drinks in the house, helping (kids) get more daily physical activity.
Journalist Barbara Schroeder and nutritionist Carrie Wiatt are the authors of The Diet for Teenagers Only (ReganBooks, $18.95).
The authors' suggestions: learn what portion sizes are supposed to look like; avoid fried foods; be aware of diet traps such as munching while on the computer; stop eating candy bars; take calcium supplements if not consuming enough milk.
Before eating, teens should also ask themselves: "Am I really hungry, or am I eating because I'm bored, lonely, stressed?"
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml