What are the ways to reduce weight in a 15-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am concerned about my 15-year-old son, who looks too fat for his age. Children of his age are of correct shape, however, my son weighs 145 pounds. I am afraid that soon he will get all major issues in his body due to this excess weight. What are the ways to encourage him to reduce weight and what other healthy diet options are available for him?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. Today's generation is getting more obese as compared to the old generation due to massive lifestyle changes, which is a sedentary lifestyle. Kinds of food choices are made now are full of preservatives and sugar or salt consuming high carbohydrates leads to high sugar levels in the blood, which leads to a faster deposition of fats in the body. This leads to obesity due to which metabolic disorders like diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, and PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) occur. It is a concern for young kids as it can lead to diabetes or cholesterol etc. First, you need to check his body mass index, which will let you understand his obesity stage. Our current weight is defined by our current diet and activity which is 70 percent from diet and 30 percent from exercise. For a customized diet plan I need more details like height weight age medical issues etc but I can help you with a quick tip. I would suggest him to avoid the following:

1. Sodas and sweet drinks like aerated drinks, and tetra-pack fruit juices are to be avoided in the diet because they are high in carbohydrates, which increase blood sugar. Also, their high fructose content has been linked to insulin resistance and an increased risk of obesity, fatty liver, and other diseases.

2. Refined carbohydrates like white bread, pasta, and rice are low in fiber and they are high in glycemic index. This combination can result in high blood sugar levels.

3. Fruit-flavored yogurts are usually low in fat but high in sugar.

4. Breakfast cereals like cornflakes, sugar-coated muesli, and sugar-coated wheat flakes.

5. Honey, maple syrup, jaggery, and sugar.

6. Packaged snacks are typically highly processed foods made from refined flour that can quickly raise your blood sugar levels and weight gain.

7. Fruits like bananas, chikoo, mangoes, dates, munakka, and raisins (kismis) are high in the glycemic index and thus need to be avoided.

8. Starchy vegetables need to be avoided like potatoes, yam (Zimikand), colocasia ( Arbi), beetroot, squash, corn, sweet potatoes, etc.

9. Eat less salt (use less salt in cooking, replace salt with other herbs and spices, cut out commercial soups and gravies which have a very high salt content, use a salt substitute)

I hope this helps you.

Thank you.

Regards.