What Causes Unhealthy Weight Gain?
Sit-down family dinners can help you encourage healthy eating. Here are the most common reasons why teens gain more weight than they should: • They eat and drink too many high-sugar, high-fat, low-nutrient foods, such as soft drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, sports drinks, French fries, candy, chips, and cookies. • They eat too much food (often because they eat for reasons other than hunger). • They don’t get enough physical activity to burn off the calories from the food they eat. Tips for Helping Your Child Lose Weight Change eating habits • Encourage breakfast eating. Children who don’t eat breakfast often eat more in a day than children who eat breakfast. For a quick breakfast, provide fruit, yogurt, or a snack bar. • Avoid fast food. Have sit-down family dinners every night, or as often as possible. Discourage eating fast food, grabbing snacks for meals, or eating in front of the television. • Teach your child to eat more slowly. Have him try putting his fork down between bites. Thi
