Teen Weight Loss: How to Help Build Self-Esteem

If your teen is overweight and you make losing weight a family affair, they will more confident and not feel as if they are being punished. When the entire family adopts healthy eating habits and participates in more physical activities, it creates a healthy emotional atmosphere for everyone.

When your child is overweight, they may have problems with self-confidence and have low self-esteem. Let's face it. When kids are overweight, other kids will tease them and call them names. When your child reaches their teen year, they want to fit in socially with kids their own age. They want to be a member of certain groups. They want to be popular. If they are bullied or teased, the develop low self-esteem and lose their self-confidence.

As parents, you need to encourage your child. Be positive. Take their feelings into consideration. How they feel about themselves can affect their desire to lose weight. By discussing their problems with them and encouraging them to take positive steps, you can influence the way they feel about themselves.

You have to help your teen realize that being overweight does not have to lead to low self-esteem. Discuss their concerns with them. Let them know you love them for the person they are and that your love is unconditional and not dependent on how much they weigh. Make positive comments about the skills they have and what they have accomplished. If your teen expresses the desire to lose weight, let them know you will help. Positive reinforcement will keep your teen confident.

The next step is to involve the entire family in healthy eating practices and physical activities. Healthy eating starts with eating breakfast. A well-balanced nutritious breakfast will give your teen the energy they need to start the day. If they are full from breakfast, they will not indulge in unhealthy snacking between meals. Before your teen leaves the house, give them a piece of fruit or a nutrition bar to snack on at school if they feel hungry between meals.

Prepare meals that contain foods from all the food groups to make sure your family is getting a balanced and nutritious meal. When you are grocery shopping, do not purchase junk foods such as potato chips and candy bars. Instead, purchase fruit and low-calorie nutrition bars. The nutrition bars may cost a little more but it is worth it to promote healthy snacking. Have your teen try light popcorn with no butter. They may have to get used to popcorn without the salt and butter but it is a filling snack.

When you go out to eat, suggest healthy alternatives to your teen. You can also share meals with your child instead of each of you ordering a full-size meal. Talk to your teen about portions. Also let your teen know that occasionally eating a food they like is not wrong. It becomes bad when unhealthy foods are eaten on a regular basis.

Planning family activities that include walking, hiking, or swimming can help a sedentary teen to get the exercise they need. These activities should be done on a regular basis. Not only does it help your teen to lose weight and maintain it, but it also brings the family together.

Combining healthy eating and physical activity, your teen will lose the weight. Reinforcing the positive aspects of their life and showing them unconditional love will help build their self-esteem.