What Is the Best Weight Loss Program for Teens?

Custom-tailoring a weight loss program for teens is critical to success. Consider the social and psychological implications of weight gain and weight loss for teens before you decide which method to use. Follow the guidelines suggested here when choosing the best weight loss program for teens.

Significance

Those who are overweight or obese as teens are more likely to have weight problems for the rest of their lives. As an overweight teen, your risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases increases greatly.

Individual Program

Weight issues can be a very private matter, especially for a teen. That is why an individually based program may work best for teen weight loss. This could include working one-on-one with a personal trainer, nutritionist, weight loss counselor or physician in a clinical program. You can also select meeting times that fit around your teen’s busy school schedule and can keep it totally confidential.

Peer to Peer

A peer-based program for teen weight loss is truly valuable. At a time when angst and isolationism are at their height, it is critical that teens have someone they can relate to. This is part of the reason weight loss camps for teens are so successful. The peer-to-peer counseling and camaraderie between campers making healthy changes together can be the spark to weight loss.

Boot Camp

Does your teen like to sleep a lot? Does she suffer from low motivation? If so, a boot camp-style program may work best for her. This could be a daily, weekly or 24/7 program that will immediately ramp up your teen’s exercise levels and clean up that diet. Led by a drill instructor, these programs allow no time for whining and excuses. Teens can respond quite positively to this authoritarian style.

Expert Insight

Experts believe that there is no magic or mystery to helping teens lose weight. It all begins with healthy lifestyle choices and sustaining them long term. The most important thing is to find a program that fits the personality and needs of your teen who is trying to lose weight. The Mayo Clinic suggests the following: “Rather than singling out your teen, adopt healthier habits as a family. After all, eating healthier foods and getting more exercise is good for everybody.” Most people have room to improve or a need to maintain their health, so why not work together? Your teen will thank you for it.