About 15%, to give exact figures, it’s about 9 million teens in America aged below 15 are obese. This figure raised in almost three times compared to the teen obesity figures in 1980.

Causes of Teen Obesity:

There are several factors contributing to teenage obesity. The teenage obesity causes vary but the main reasons for teenage obesity are:

1. Overeating
2. Less physical activity or inactivity
3. Excess TV viewing and snacking

When a teen eats and drinks more than the body needs for normal growth and functioning, the excess energy stores in the form of body fat. And, adding to this if the teen is not doing enough regular exercise, it worsens the problem.

Many television studies have shown teens having a television in their bedrooms have the tendency to watch it more which leads to inactivity, the main culprit of teenage obesity.

How to Prevent Teen Obesity?

The best way to prevent obesity is — Reverse the cause of teenage obesity.

It offers the solutions to treat the teen obesity problem:

• Eat healthy diet
• Avoid eating fast food and junk food, which is a common tendency during teenage
• Do regular exercise. It’s important not just to avoid obesity but also to stay active throughout the day.
• Teens have to involve in many activities in a day, which requires them to be active. And, avoid watching TV or using computer for longer durations.

Parents’ Role in Teen Obesity

Children usually tend to develop the habits which are followed by their parents.

So, Blame parents for teen obesity!

Giving them the food they want doesn’t show them that you love them. You need to show them the right way to eat and not stop at every fast food restaurant you see.

Parents have to give a good example of a healthy eating and managing a healthy life style. To play a better role in avoiding the obesity problem and controlling child’s weight, parent have to guide teenager to have healthy dietary habits and do regular exercise.

Several research studies show that well balanced diet and food that rank low in glycemic index are helpful in reducing teenage obesity.

Parents should keep in mind that it’s not scolding about being overweight but guiding on how to reduce weight that can really help. They should explain to the teenager the importance of healthy weight for general health and well being when they grow up.

By losing weight parent can gain a positive image to their teen children. It’s the parents only that can help the teens live happy normal lives.

What are the Three Effects of Obesity?

The following are the three effects of obesity:

1. Obesity can lead to chronic diseases such as heart problems, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure etc.
2. Obesity can affect a person’s physical ability to a great extent. An obese person would find it difficult to walk, run and do tasks which involve physical effort
3. Obese persons always feel different and often times people tease or bully their overweight peers, who suffer a loss of self-esteem.
4. Obese people often face prejudice or discrimination at work, at school, while looking for a job, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common.
5. Obesity results an increased risk of depression.  In some cases obesity cause to psychological distress, isolation, low self-esteem, and negative self-image

Child obesity treatment is the most difficult decision for parent but in this point you have to play the major role and prevent from your child suffering and missery in the future.