With respect to both physical activity and nutrition, lifestyles of most young Americans have changed dramatically over time. Decades ago, young people often walked miles to attend school, visit friends, or even see a doctor. There was no television to watch, and no Internet to provide hours of visiting without leaving the house. Rather than choosing from an array of pre-packaged and highly processed foods, families tended to cook at home and spent time enjoying meals together. One of the unfortunate results of such lifestyle changes is a sharp rise in obesity, now being identified in a younger and younger population. The problem has reached epidemic proportions. With the increase in childhood and adolescent obesity comes a host of other illnesses and conditions: diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cancer, along with low self-esteem, depression and anxiety.

Written for both youth and parents, this work covers the causes and effects of the rise in childhood obesity while presenting straightforward guidelines and recommendations for getting assessed and treated. Information is provided on healthy nutrition and physical activity for young people, tools for self-monitoring and medical conditions associated with weight gain. Numerous helpful resources are listed. Throughout the text, teens themselves describe their weight-related struggles and successes.

Tania Heller, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician and the medical director of the Washington Center for Eating Disorders and Adolescent Obesity in Bethesda, Maryland www.washingtoncenteronline.com. She is the author of four other books.

Tania Heller, M.D.

Foreword by Mohsen Ziai, M.D.

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 188
Bibliographic Info: diagrams, glossary, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2005
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2082-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0399-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      v

A Message to the Readers      vii

Foreword by Mohsen Ziai, M.D.      1

Preface      3

1. What Is Obesity?      7

2. Why Do People Become Overweight, and Why Are So Many More Young People Overweight?      11

3. Binge-Eating Disorder      27

4. Interviews with Teenagers      30

5. Why Is Being Overweight a Problem?      36

6. Body Image and Self-Esteem      44

7. How Do You Know If You’re Overweight?      51

8. Treatment Basics      54

9. Healthy Nutrition: The First Step in Change      62

10. Physical Activity: The Second Step      79

11. Modifying Your Behaviors      89

12. Medical Treatment for the Overweight      98

13. Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle      101

14. Eating Disorders      114

15. Guide for Parents: Basic Strategies      123

16. Guide for Parents: Focus on Food      138

17. Prevention      147

18. Questions, Answers and a Quiz      150

19. Conclusion      159

Appendix A: The Essentials of a Healthier Lifestyle      161

Appendix B: Medical Conditions Causing or Associated with Obesity      164

Appendix C: Resources      166

Glossary      169

Bibliography      173

Index      179

• “Excellent…highly recommended”—VOYA
• “Accessible”—SciTech Book News