If you’re a fit fiftysomething, there’s no reason why you can’t continue doing any exercise you’ve already developed a passion for. But know your body, ‘If there’s any risk you could be developing osteoporosis (half of us do past this age, when loss of oestrogen makes our bones more vulnerable), be conscious that running can cause hairline fractures,’ says Leon. ‘It’s a good idea to talk to your GP before embarking on a new exercise programme and, if you’ve had your menopause and you have risk factors for osteoporosis, you should be entitled to a bone scan on the NHS, which will reassure you about what you can do. Even if running is unsuitable, it’s important to do some weight-bearing exercise to strengthen bones, so keep up your 10,000 steps a day.

‘You should also ask your doctor to check your blood pressure and cholesterol – if they’re raised and you don’t know it, sudden vigorous exercise could trigger a heart attack. But again it’s about balance – cardio exercise is also crucial for good circulation, and to prevent your risk of a stroke. It will also help regulate your blood sugar if you have diabetes. So make sure you’re walking fast enough to feel out of breath but able to hold a conversation.’

The best and most enjoyable exercises for your sixth decade include walking, swimming, cycling, weight lifting, dancing (ballroom or Irish), and simple stair climbing (to strengthen your knees).

Exercise can also help with problems such as lower-back pain, which are very common if you’ve spent most of your life sitting at a desk. ‘Listen to your body and use exercise to alleviate these issues – and make sure you don’t do anything that will exacerbate them,’ says Anne. ‘There are personal trainers who specialise in treating specific issues like back pain – so ask around. Postural classes that work the core muscles around your tummy (such as Pilates, involving gentle floor exercises that work the deepest muscles) will help your back, too, by giving your spine more support.’

‘If you’re starting to get arthritis, or you’re diagnosed with diabetes, these are big wake-up calls to do more exercise. It’s a myth that you can’t exercise with arthritis – you need to work your muscles to strengthen them and protect your joints. Walking, dancing, swimming, aqua aerobics and cycling suit a lot of people even with arthritis – but if you’re in too much pain to do these, it’s still important to exercise a bit (even from your chair). You can download a booklet on suitable exercises from http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk.’;

Try this…

Take a Method Putkisto class, which works on body alignment – this uses Pilates-style floor exercises, to improve your posture. It can keep you looking younger and will also help with balance, breathing, and overall energy. Find a class near you at http://www.methodputkisto.com.

Tip

Exercise now will enhance your quality of life and stave off ill health. Using a vibrational plate will increase muscle mass and bone density and improve your balance, preventing falls in later life.

A recent study conducted by John Hopkins University has concluded that energy drinks should be labelled with highly visible health warnings aimed at young people.

The study based its recommendations on research that discovered certain drinks contained as much as 14 times more caffeine than the average can of cola. This is the same as drinking seven cups of coffee.

Researchers tested 28 different energy drinks on the market and the conclusion is pretty astonishing.

Energy Drink Effects

Energy drinks seem to be promoted from one of two perspectives. One line of promotion veers towards a sports focus, indicating to the consumer that these drinks might enhance physical stamina. Then there is the ‘morning after’ approach, which offers up energy drinks as a means of coping with the after-effects of a big night out, or a way to give yourself a boost if you’re feeling tired or jaded.

WLR says . . .

Children and young people are extremely susceptible to advertising and peer pressure. A clever marketing campaign can very effectively harness their attention and affection towards a particular product and, subsequently, their cash.

However, whilst the image of an individual drink might captivate, most young people don’t wade their way through the ingredients list on a bottle or can before they buy it. Even if they did, would they be aware of the energy drink caffeine content and what it means?

Energy Drink Facts

An adult who has built up a certain tolerance to caffeine might be able to drink a number of cups of coffee over the course of a day without any ill effects. However, a child or adolescent drinking the equivalent of seven cups in one go is certainly cause for alarm.

Whilst we have become accustomed to hearing about the high amounts of sugar in fizzy drinks and the scary things that certain brands can do to grubby coins, caffeine content has, until now, largely been overlooked.

It is only relatively recently that it has become more of an issue that needs addressing, as an increasing number of energy drinks are released onto the market and their popularity rises.

Are Energy Drinks Bad For You?

The marketing behind many of these drinks has tapped into the adolescent psyche and they are extremely popular with young people. But this sudden rush of caffeine can have detrimental effects on behaviour and concentration and it seems that many schools have already realised the potentially harmful consequences.

So much so, that a number of schools around the country have now banned them, citing bad behaviour and an inability to concentrate after consuming the drinks, amongst the reasons. In some cases, it is individual brands of drink that have been banned.

This is going to make it an ongoing battle between the marketing executives and the schools, as Head Teachers must stay on top of trends and new launches in the energy drink market.

When ever the potential dangers of energy drinks arise in conversation, caffeine content is usually the first and most heated topic of discussion. Is it true that caffeine is the main active ingredient in most popular energy drinks? And if so, what’s so bad about caffeine; what is it about caffeine that has encouraged so many that the general public should be warned about the dangers of energy drinks or at least seek healthier alternatives to energy drinks? Is the content of caffeine in most energy drinks dangerous for the average adult individual to consume in the first place?

These questions certainly should not be overlooked. But neither should we allow the hype of caffeine content to obscure the real question at hand, which of course is whether or not energy drinks are bad for you. Caffeine is not the only consideration to be taken into account when analyzing the costs and benefits of energy drink consumption. To even begin answering the question of if energy drinks are bad for your health, not only must one look into the constituents of the typical “proprietary energy blends” similar to most energy supplements, but also examine the ingredients in energy drinks, those beyond the the advertised energy and mood enhancing agents.

Considering the Ingredients in Energy Drinks

Identifying and discussing the most popular ingredients in energy drinks should provide a solid foothold for our discussion of whether energy drinks are bad for you. Energy drinks contain “energy blends” consisting of energy enhancing ingredients, such as caffeine, B vitamins, ginseng, guarana, and taurine.

The Good Energy Drink Ingredients

Caffeine: Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug on the face of the planet. But how does it affect one’s health? In 1958, the Food and Drug Administration classified caffeine as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). However more recent studies have shown that there is no evidence that demonstrates that the use of caffeine in carbonated beverages yields these products harmful to the health of adults. There’s a general consensus among experts that common-sense and moderation are the keys to consuming caffeinated foods and beverages. Moderate caffeine consumption is around 300 mg a day for adults. However this amount varies greatly depending on the individual, his size, tolerance, sex, etc. While it is recommended that adults consume no more than 300 mg per day, this amount of caffeine would be far from enough to cause any (serious) health problems to an otherwise heathy adult.

Guarana: Native to the Amazon Basin and especially prevalent in Brazil, as a dietary supplement, guarana is an effective energy booster. Guarana is often thought of as a healthier yet more potent form of caffeine than that derived from coffee beans. And Indeed, guarana and caffeine are similar in many respects. In fact, guarana contains guaranine, which is identical to the caffeine derived from other sources, such as tea or coffee. Only the guarana seed contains roughly twice the amount of caffeine than the similar sized coffee bean. In addition to caffeine, guarana seeds contain other energy and metabolism enhancing ingredients. Like most naturally occuring sources of caffeine, for instance, guarana seeds contain a mixture of xanthine alkaloids other than caffeine, such as the cardiac stimulants theophylline and theobromine and other substances such as polyphenols.

Ginseng: Ginseng is a popular herbal supplement that has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine.In numerous studies Ginseng has been shown to: (1) increase energy, (2) increase the body’s ability to maintain its antioxidant status, (3) decrease lipid levels such as LDL cholesterol, (4) improve sexual performance and increase desire, (5) benefit attention, mental arithmetic, logical deduction, and more.

The Bad Energy Drink Ingredients

Besides the highly promoted energy blends, energy drinks contain other ingredients of interest to our discussion. For the most part, these are the ingredients that make some energy drinks bad for your health. Such ingredients include sugar, carbonated water, and certain artificial sweeteners. Here, I shall keep it brief and focus on the pitfalls and adverse affects of carbonation and high sugar content in energy drinks.

Sugar: The, often immensely, high level of sugar found in most energy drinks cannot be overlooked. Many energy drinks contain significantly more sugar than a bottle of Coke or Pepsi. Though sugar is known to provide a quick pick-me-up, the energy boost is short lived and often followed by an unpleasant crash as the energy enhancing affects of the sugar quickly ware off. In addition to the nasty crash brought on by the high levels of sugar in many leading energy drinks, such high sugar contents often correspond to high calories. Moreover, the sugar levels found in many energy drinks can contribute to insulin problems.

A major concern has recently surfaced surrounding the role of sugar-packed energy drinks in the increase of child obesity, since teens and young adults are the primary targets of most energy drink marketing campaigns.

Carbonation is often overlooked with regards to its affects on your health. However, many believe that this is a major mistake and that carbonated beverages can have serious adverse effects on your health. Carbonation reduces the amount of calcium in your bones, which could lead to an earlier onset of osteoporosis.

Located at the Top of the Weight Loss Pyramid, Sugar is the number one ingredient to avoid.

Somewhere in Between Good and Bad

At this point it is unclear whether certain ingredients, when in energy drinks, are healthy, harmful or insignificant. Taurine, for instance, is a highly controversial ingredient in energy drinks. In fact, energy supplements that contain both caffeine and taurine have a long history of being banned in certain countries due to the potential danger and lack of knowledge concerning the mixture of the two ingredients.

Naturally occurring in meats and fish, significantly excess amounts of taurine are found in most energy products featuring the chemical. Because no intensive studies have found conclusive evidence on the combined effect of taurine and caffeine on humans, certain energy drinks such as Red Bull have been banned in Norway, Denmark, Uruguay and France. Mixed with caffeine in energy drinks, taurine has been claimed to cause neurophysiological problems and has been linked to several deaths. The uncertainty of possible health risks surrounding the mixture of caffeine and taurine is why many countries have banned energy drinks containing taurine and why energy drinks in the U.S. and Canada require warning labels.

B vitamins also fall somewhere between good and bad in terms of the health affects of energy drink ingredients. Various B vitamins are now commonly found in many energy drinks. However, addition of B vitamins as an energy enhancing ingredient is more of a marketing tactic than an added benefit to the consumer. The addition of B vitamins to energy drinks is nether good nor bad for your health. Excess B vitamins are simply filtered out of the body through urination. The high content of B vitamins in energy drinks does not correspond to high energy, the excess is simply discarded.

Ok, so you had a light breakfast (a no-no in my book) and it is 9am and you are hungry. You stop by a local convenience store to grab a water and a snack. They have Breakfast burritos and breakfast sandwiches and hot fresh donuts. You also see a small Sausage, egg and cheese wrap….”hmmm, shouldn’t be to bad!” About the size of a slice of cheese and no thicker than a quarter as seen in the picture above! You start to put it in your mouth but something in your brain says, “READ THE LABEL!!!” And this is what it said….

450 calories, 28g fat, 1235 mg sodium, 34 carbs, 1 fiber, 14g protein

How many times have we been caught doing this? Thinking we are making right choices and BOOM….Sometimes we turn a blind eye to it and hope it will be ok but is it? We are accountable to ourselves when it comes to making the right choices and we MUST, if we want to succeed, do whatever it takes to become more healthy even if it means we have to take a few seconds to read labels!

Every year, millions of Americans make the New Years’ resolution that this will be the year that they lose weight…and often, by the end of the month, that resolution has gone out the window. But, why is this so? Why is it so difficult to lose weight, especially in the winter? This article will examine the science behind physical activity, metabolism, and how they relate to weight loss (and gain) in cold weather.

Physical Activity in Winter and Weight Loss

The first concept we must consider before deciding if this is truly a myth is in regards to physical activity. Most of us understand that there are 3500 calories in one pound of fat–and therefore, in order to lose one pound of weight per week, we must cut out or burn an average of 500 calories each day. While it is possible to eliminate 500 calories from your diet, most individuals find it more enjoyable to use a combination of physical activity along with diet restriction in order to cut these calories. As a basic guide, you can assume that by exercising for 60 minutes per day at a moderate to high intensity, you can burn between 300 and 500 calories. That means you only need to cut 200 (and sometimes even fewer) calories from your diet in order to achieve the goal of losing one pound per week.

Obviously, being physically active is an easy way to achieve and maintain weight loss. But, in the winter months, when it is cold, icy and snowy outside, it can be difficult or even impossible to exercise. Shorter days make you feel tired earlier, preventing a trip to the gym. And, it’s just so frigid outside, you can’t bear the idea of heading to your usual yoga class. The lack of regular physical activity in the winter definitely contributes to higher levels of weight gain during the winter months.

Metabolism in Winter and Weight Loss

Now, let’s consider how your metabolism acts in the winter and how this affects weight loss. While most of us understand that the metabolism is the part of the body that burns food; it also is essential to make sure the body is running efficiently. During cold weather, our metabolism is what helps to keep us warm. Without it, our core temperature would drop, and we would begin to suffer from hypothermia! By working harder, the metabolism is burning more calories.

The Verdict

This one is a difficult question to answer. The science behind the question dictates that we should actually lose weight during winter months. Our metabolism is revved, and is burning more calories than in warmer months. However, our inability to maintain our physical activity level results in fewer calories being burned, and more pounds being packed on. Find a way to get yourself to the gym every day, no matter what. It will help you maintain your weight loss goals!

Medi-Weightloss Clinics is running a cover model contest! Please help decide the winner of this contest!! Here is a link to the contest page that has before and after shots along with some very inspirational stories! Let me know what you think!!

Cover Model Contest;

Zucchini grow so fast. If you missed picking it small, use it for this recipe. If you like zucchini, you will like this recipe. Even people who don’t like zucchini, like this recipe. Serve it as a side dish or main dish with a salad.”

Ingredients

Original recipe makes 4 servingsChange Servings

1/4 cupolive oil, or as needed

1 largezucchini, sliced into 1/4-inch pieces

1/8 teaspoonred pepper flakes (optional)

1/8 teaspoongarlic salt, or to taste

1/8 teaspoononion salt, or to taste

1/4 cupgrated Romano cheese

1 cuptomato sauce

1 cupshredded Mexican 4-cheese blend

Directions

1.Heat enough olive oil to coat the bottom of a large skillet over medium heat; arrange zucchini slices in the hot oil. Sprinkle zucchini slices with red pepper flakes, garlic salt, and onion salt. Fry until zucchini slices are slightly softened, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
2.Sprinkle each slice with Romano cheese and spoonful of tomato sauce; cook until cheese just begins to melt, 2 to 3 minutes. Top tomato sauce layer with Mexican cheese blend; cover skillet and cook until cheese melts, about 5 minutes.

8 Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

Snow is fun for dogs and kids who don’t have to shovel the stuff. But for middle aged guys like me, it’s a drag. And I’m sure any of you who’ve had to dig out of the snow and ice that Mother Nature has been dumping on us feel the same way. Shovelling snow is hard work, especially when the snow is wet and heavy. And if you don’t tackle this task in the same way you’d handle a hazardous job at work, you could injure your back, pull muscles, get frostbite and even suffer a heart attack.

Snow Shoveling Safety Tips

In 2007, more than 118,000 individuals in the US were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices and other medical offices for injuries related to snow shoveling or manual removal of ice, according to the US Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Of course, here in Canada, we also know a thing about snow shoveling and the injuries it causes. Here are some snow shovelling safety tips.

1. Don’t Shovel Snow If You’re Not Physically Fit

Shoveling snow can strain your heart and back. Try to avoid the job if you aren’t in good physical shape, are older, overweight or have a history of back or heart problems. Either hand the shovel to somebody who is fit to do it or use a snow-blower to clear the snow. Click here for snowblower safety tips.

2. Warm Up Your Muscles before You Shovel

As with any physically demanding exercise, consult with your doctor to ensure you’re fit enough to do it. Before you begin shoveling, do warm-up stretches and flexing exercises to loosen up the muscles and prepare them for the job ahead.

3. Lighten the Load with the Right Snow Shovel

A snow shovel should be lightweight, about 1.5 kg, or a little over 3 lbs, and the blade shouldn’t be too large. Otherwise your load will be too heavy, putting too much stress on your heart and back. The handle should be long enough so that you don’t have to stoop to shovel and the grip should be made of plastic or wood because metal gets too cold. As a general guideline, the shovel (blade plus handle) should be elbow height when standing upright.

4. Bundle Up When You Shovel

Wear several layers of warm lightweight clothing that’s easy and comfortable to move in. The inner layer should be fishnet or thermal underwear that allows perspiration to escape from the skin surface. Make sure your head (especially your ears), feet and hands are well covered. Your winter boots should be warm, water-resistant and high-cut, and provide good traction. Gloves should be light and flexible and give you a good grip. If it’s really cold, wear something over your mouth. And don’t shovel at all if the temperature drops below -40°C, or below -25° to -30°C when it’s windy.

5. Pace – Don’t Race

Shoveling snow in heavy-duty clothing can be as strenuous as weightlifting. You may want to get the job over with as fast as you can, but it’s better to keep moving and work at a steady pace. A good recommended rate for continuous shoveling is usually considered to be around 15 scoops per minute. Shoveling is going to make you sweat and, if you stop, you could get a chill. The trick is to shovel efficiently without becoming fatigued.

6. Push – Don’t Lift

Push the snow rather than lifting it. If you must throw it, take only as much snow as you can easily lift. And remember, the wetter the snow, the heavier it is. Consider using a snow scoop to push the snow. The scoop helps you to move snow with less effort by riding up over the snow to allow you to move it without ever having to lift it.

7. Face – Don’t Twist

Turn your feet to the direction you’re throwing. Don’t twist at the waist. Don’t throw snow over your shoulder or to the side.

8. Rest and Recover

Take frequent breaks and drink some warm non-alcoholic fluids. In extreme conditions, such as very cold and windy weather, 15 minutes of shoveling should be followed by 15 minutes of rest.

Conclusion

The groundhog notwithstanding, winter isn’t showing signs of loosening its grip any time soon. So heed these snow shoveling safety tips and share them with your workers.

CHINESE BEEF SOUP
1 pound head bok choy
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, chopped, 2 1/2 ounces
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Pepper, to taste

Chop the bok choy, keeping the stalks and leaves separate. In a soup pot, brown the ground beef with the onions, mushrooms and garlic; drain the grease. Add the bok choy stalks and cook until almost tender. Add the broth and soy sauce; bring to a boil. Stir in the bok choy leaves and cook until heated through. Season with pepper, to taste.

Makes about 7 cups or 6 servings
Can be frozen

Per Serving: 176 Calories; 10g Fat; 18g Protein; 4g Carbohydrate; 1.5g Dietary Fiber; 2.5g Net Carbs

Purchased this at Walmart and found it to be simply delish!! Now, a 4 pack was about $8.50 but I drink half a bottle per meal! I drink the whole container of the $5.50 Atkins shake so total cost for 8 meals with Atkins is $11! AND there are actually less carbs in Lean Body! Below, you can check out the nutritional info and here is a link to the Lean Body site!

25g Protein
•Zero Sugar
•Lactose Free

Support Lean Muscle and Burn Fat!

Lean Body On the Go! Shakes provide quick, delicious lean muscle nutrition for active people. Just twist open and enjoy Lean Body’s smooth, creamy, award-winning taste!

Lean Body satisfies your appetite, increases energy and makes you feel great. Use Lean Body in conjunction with your exercise program to help you nourish lean muscle and burn fat.

Award-Winning Taste. Tastes like a delicious, creamy milkshake!

25 grams LeanPro. Muscle building protein

No Sugar — Zero!

Lactose-Free! Easy to digest

No Trans Fat. No hydrogenated Oil

Healthy! Fortified with vitamins, minerals and fiber

Patented, Flash-heat Technology. For highest quality protein

Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 1 Bottle (14 oz.)(414 oz.)
Servings Per Container: 1

Amount Per Serving %DV

Total Calories 180

Calories From Fat 60

Total Fat 7 g 11 %

Saturated Fat 0.5 g 3 %

Trans Fat 0 g 0 %

Cholesterol 10 mg 3 %

Sodium 430 mg 19 %

Potassium 630 mg 18 %

Total Carbohydrates 4 g 1 %

Dietary Fiber 4 g 17 %

Sugars 0 g

Protein 25 g

Vitamin A 20 %

Vitamin C 20 %

Calcium 25 %

Iron 0 %

Vitamin D 20 %

Vitamin K 20 %

Thiamin 20 %

Riboflavin 20 %

Niacin 20 %

Vitamin E 20 %

Selenium 20 %

Biotin 20 %

Vitamin B12 20 %

Vitamin B6 20 %

Folate 20 %

Pantothenic Acid 20 %

Phosphorus 30 %

Iodine 20 %

Magnesium 20 %

Zinc 0 %

Copper 20 %

Manganese 20 %

Chromium 20 %

Molybdenum 20 %

*Daily Value Not Established

Other Ingredients: Filtered Water, Lean Pro (Special Blend of Spray Dried Ultrafiltered Milk Protein Isolate, Yielding Fast Acting Whey Protein Peptides, Branched Chain Amino Acids, L-Glutamine Peptides, and Slow Acting Casein Peptides, Whey Protein Concentrate, Calcium Caseinate), Safflower Oil, Cocoa Pocessed with Alkali, FiberPlex(Fructooligosaccharides, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Carageenan, Xanthan Gum), Vitamin and Mineral Blend (Potassium Phosphate, Potassium Citrate, Magnesium Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Zinc Sulfate, Tocopherol Acetate, Biotin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Niacinamide, Phytonadione, Potassium Iodide, D-calcium Pantothenate, Chromium Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Cyanocobalamin, Sodium Molybdate, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Thiamin Mononitrate, Ferric Orthophosphate, Manganese Sulfate), Natural Flavors, Soy Lecithin, Citric Acid, Sucralose, Salt, Acesulfame Potassium.
Contains: Milk and Soy.

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. An article published by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published in March 2011 stated that childhood obesity is easy to diagnose. While it is known that the annual cost to society for this level of obesity is $100 billion and responsible for over 300,000 deaths, and that there is a 80% chance that the obese child will become an obese adult, it is one of the hardest issues to address! Why? Because you have to, not only deal with the child, but the family unit as a whole! HERE is the article if you would like to check out more of what they had to say! The CDC also put out an article in September 2011 that stated that childhood obesity has tripled over the last 30 years! Here is that article! What are we going to do about it? Medi-Weightloss Clinics has put together a unique program called PowerPlay! It is a program set-up specifically for children who need to lose weight! Check with your clinic for more information if you’re interested!

The problem of childhood obesity in the United States has grown considerably in recent years. Between 16 and 33 percent of children and adolescents are obese. Obesity is among the easiest medical conditions to recognize but most difficult to treat. Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year. The annual cost to society for obesity is estimated at nearly $100 billion. Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise.

What is obesity?
A few extra pounds does not suggest obesity. However they may indicate a tendency to gain weight easily and a need for changes in diet and/or exercise. Generally, a child is not considered obese until the weight is at least 10 percent higher than what is recommended for their height and body type. Obesity most commonly begins between the ages of 5 and 6, or during adolescence. Studies have shown that a child who is obese between the ages of 10 and 13 has an 80 percent chance of becoming an obese adult.

What causes obesity?
The causes of obesity are complex and include genetic, biological, behavioral and cultural factors. Obesity occurs when a person eats more calories than the body burns up. If one parent is obese, there is a 50 percent chance that their children will also be obese. However, when both parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of being obese. Although certain medical disorders can cause obesity, less than 1 percent of all obesity is caused by physical problems. Obesity in childhood and adolescence can be related to:
•poor eating habits
•overeating or binging
•lack of exercise (i.e., couch potato kids)
•family history of obesity
•medical illnesses (endocrine, neurological problems)
•medications (steroids, some psychiatric medications)
•stressful life events or changes (separations, divorce, moves, deaths, abuse)
•family and peer problems
•low self-esteem
•depression or other emotional problems

What are risks and complications of obesity?
There are many risks and complications with obesity. Physical consequences include:
•increased risk of heart disease
•high blood pressure
•diabetes
•breathing problems
•trouble sleeping

Child and adolescent obesity is also associated with increased risk of emotional problems. Teens with weight problems tend to have much lower self-esteem and be less popular with their peers. Depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder can also occur.

How can obesity be managed and treated?
Obese children need a thorough medical evaluation by a pediatrician or family physician to consider the possibility of a physical cause. In the absence of a physical disorder, the only way to lose weight is to reduce the number of calories being eaten and to increase the level of physical activity. Lasting weight loss can only occur when there is self-motivation. Since obesity often affects more than one family member, making healthy eating and regular exercise a family activity can improve the chances of successful weight control for the child or adolescent.

Ways to manage obesity in children and adolescents include:
•start a weight-management program
•change eating habits (eat slowly, develop a routine)
•plan meals and make better food selections (eat less fatty foods, avoid junk and fast foods)
•control portions and consume less calories
•increase physical activity (especially walking) and have a more active lifestyle
•know what your child eats at school
•eat meals as a family instead of while watching television or at the computer
•do not use food as a reward
•limit snacking
•attend a support group (e.g., Overeaters Anonymous)

Obesity frequently becomes a lifelong issue. The reason most obese adolescents gain back their lost pounds is that they tend to go back to their old habits of eating and exercising. An obese adolescent must therefore learn to eat and enjoy healthy foods in moderate amounts and to exercise regularly to maintain a desired weight. Parents of an obese child can improve their child’s self esteem by emphasizing their strengths and positive qualities rather than just focusing on their weight problem.

When a child or adolescent with obesity also has emotional problems, a child and adolescent psychiatrist can work with the child’s family physician to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Such a plan would include reasonable weight loss goals, dietary and physical activity management, behavior modification, and family involvement.