WEIGHT LOSS CONFIDENTIAL

Shatters Myths about Teen Weight Loss

Weight Loss Confidential by Anne M. Fletcher, MS, RD, challenges the prevailing thinking on teen weight loss, including many beliefs commonly held by professionals in the field:

Misconception: Teens who diet invariably fall prey to fads and have unhealthy eating habits.

WLC: The more than 100 teens that Fletcher interviewed lost a significant amount of weight without going to extremes: their average weight loss was 58 pounds, and three quarters lost 30 pounds or more. Many said they followed diets, but they were healthy diets.

Misconception: Teens who have tried and failed at losing weight many times before don’t succeed.

WLC: 7 out of 10 teens lost and gained weight multiple times before finally succeeding.

Misconception: The methods used by adults to lose weight are inappropriate for teens.

WLC: A number of experts steer teens away from counting fat grams and calories, keeping food records, and working out, believing these things might lead to an unhealthy obsession with weight and food. Many of the teens Fletcher interviewed used these techniques, and their attitudes about weight and food are healthy.

Misconception: Teens are rebellious by nature, so efforts to help them will backfire.

WLC: A strong majority of the teens indicated their families’ support was important to their success.

Misconception: Overweight teens from overweight families are unlikely to overcome the odds and lose weight.

WLC: Most of the teens said at least one parent was overweight.

Misconception: Teens who have been overweight since they were very young don’t have much hope of losing weight permanently.

WLC: The average age at which the teens reported becoming overweight was 9 1/2.