Every year brings new changes to your child’s life, whether new teachers, new classmates, or a new school. Many parents do not realize it, but these changes can be very stressful on children, especially overweight or obese children.
While most kids do not worry about whether or not they are obese, all kids worry about what other kids think of them. Therefore, obesity affects each child differently; some kids are outgoing enough that they are not teased about their weight, and are therefore not bothered by it, but many kids do suffer as a result of their condition.
However, it can be difficult for a parent to convince even a frequently-teased obese child to consider diet and exercise. Kids often do not see the importance of restraint or how learning to restrain themselves could result in their leading happier lives. For a child, habits are not a matter of choice, but a matter of the way things are and will always be.
The best time to introduce changes to your child’s habits and routines is when other changes are already occurring – between school years or when your child is getting ready to transition to a new school. All the changes that will already be going on in your child’s life will make the new habit seem less intruding.
Perhaps as a parent you are worried about your obese child or teen suffering from the cruelty of his or her classmates? Most parents can tell or at least get a feeling of when their child is not happy or is suffering from torments at school. Such torments inevitably manifest themselves through changes in your child’s mood or disposition. You know your child better than anyone else does; it is important to be perceptive.
High school in particular brings a lot of very difficult changes. A high school student’s environment is completely different from that of any other environment he or she has ever encountered. This is particularly terrifying for a person who is insecure about his or her weight and/or appearance.
Most teens use their summer break from school to improve their looks or otherwise increase their chances of being accepted when school starts back up again. A weight loss camp is a great way to help your teen feel ready to start school confidently in the fall.
Not only do weight loss camps help kids lose weight while having fun, but they also give kids an opportunity to learn valuable information about nutrition that will serve them in planning healthy diets for the rest of their lives.
Additionally, the exercise habits adopted at teen weight loss camps are fun and will provide a foundation for a life full of confidence and good health that will help your teen see his or her life in a more positive way.
The summer is the perfect time for your child to make a decision either to start the next year the way he or she is, or to start changing for the better. Make the right decision; persuade your child to take this step toward a happier and more productive school year and a better, healthier life.
