Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Self-Monitoring of Weight Linked to Improved Teen Health

A study that was conducted through the University of California (San Diego) School of Medicine found that overweight teenagers who weigh themselves at least once a week exhibited healthier overall behavior, including eating more fruits and vegetables and getting more exercise.
"We think that regular weight monitoring may increase a teen's awareness of weight fluctuations or gradual weight gain, enabling him or her to appropriately adjust their diet and exercise, said [Kerri] Boutelle. They also reported less daily calorie intake, less junk-food consumption and greater use of a structured diet." (Source: MediLexicon)
Some people have expressed concern that teens who regularly weigh themselves are more likely to develop body dissatisfaction and eating disorders. But this new study shows that the opposite appears to be true for teens who are overweight or obese.

Self-monitoring is encouraged by a number of highly effective and reputable weight loss and wellness programs, including the Structure House residential weight loss program.

Labels: self-control, weight_loss, teens, self-monitoring

Posted By: Aspen/CRC