My lil bro is about to turn 12. He's about 15-20 lbs overweight. I'm helping him stick with a diet and helping him exercise, but my parents think i'm starving him and that he's way too young to cut food down. It's not like i'm not letting him eat at all, but he used to have snacks all the time...so...i'm trying to get him to eat less. What can i do?!!
2006-08-09 01:26:44 · 20 answers · asked by pony25 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
First, you should take him to his physician to see if he really is overweight to the point he needs to diet. Ofcourse, cutting out sugary stuff like soda and too much juice is healthy for him, as well as greasy things like cheese doodles and chips. But make sure he eats healthy stuff as a snack instead--apple sauce or low fat crackers...
I think dieting restrictions are okay, but don't reduce his portions to the point that he's hungry all the time.
2006-08-09 01:31:59 · answer #1 · answered by Annie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A healthy diet is healthy for an 11 year old. It is really not how much you eat, but what you eat.
Cut out the junk food, substitute fresh fruit and veges. The biggest source of empty calories is soda and diet soda is even worse as it causes the body to retain fluids and increases appetite. Drink water instead and just have regular soda as a treat (since it is now made with high fructose corn syrup rather than sugar it's crap too).
While it is important to look good, the main reason for eating a healthy, real food diet is that it builds health. You may feel fine now on junk food, but how do you want to feel when you're 30, 40 or 50?
2006-08-09 01:40:35 · answer #2 · answered by chillsister 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Now is not a good time for your brother to lose weight--- most kids tend to get a bit chubby a year or so before they are going to have their growth spurt.
If your brother is eating a lot of unhealthy foods (lots of sugar, processed foods, white foods), rather than cutting down on how much he eats, he should change WHAT he eats. Fruits instead of candy bars, water instead of pops and sodas, brown bread instead of white, etc.
For most people, it is better to eat 5-6 smaller meals per day, so he should certainly be allowed to have snacks---just not crappy ones, like bags of chips and french fries. A tuna sandwich is great, or an apple and some cheese, etc. As growing kid, he definitley needs protein, so you shouldn't be trying to make him eat salads all the time (salads are good---but he needs meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, yogurt, etc. too).
If your family generally has good eating habits, and your brother is reasonably active, 15-20 pounds extra at his age isn't a huge deal. He'll probably grow several inches in the next year or two, and the extra pounds will spread out over his new height.
2006-08-09 02:21:06 · answer #3 · answered by P-nuts and Hair-dos 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, 11-12 IS too young for a diet. In my experience with my son, he got chubby around that age and then grew taller. He continued to 'bulk up' and then get taller til now. Now, he is very tall and slim. Maybe tell ur brother just to cut out the sweets and sodas and snack foods but, make his calories per day ones that count and help with energy and health. Fruit and veg are always the best option.
2006-08-09 01:32:59 · answer #4 · answered by intenseone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Help your brother make good food choices - like fruit instead of cookies or popcorn or pretzels instead of chips for snacks. Show him reasonable servings. (2 slices of pizza instead of half the pie.)
The other thing you can do to help him is play a little one-on-one basketball with him or frisbee or go kick a soccer ball around with him. Go bike riding with him. That'll be just as big a help to him.
He's at an age where you can still get good habits ingrained in him before the bad ones are concrete. Kudos to you for wanting to help him, he's a lucky guy! =)
Good luck!
2006-08-09 01:42:59 · answer #5 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your brother needs a medically supervised diet combined with an exercise program. Talk to his doctor about any dietary changes before implementing them. He is entering adolesence and it is important that he have proper nutrition and a balanced diet. Having said that, cutting out unhealthy snacks and getting more exercise are pretty safe ways to encourage weight loss.
2006-08-09 01:33:14 · answer #6 · answered by Perplexed Music Lover 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a neice who is also about 15 lbs. over weight. Basically yes the doc said to cut her back and get her more active. You don't have to go to an extreme. So yes I think your right. Cut back on portions and get him to do more. Kids are a little bit different because they don't always understand. I think you should keep doing what your doing. Make sure he's drinking lots of water.
2006-08-09 01:34:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eating right is never a bad thing. No need to starve him! Perhaps just some extra activity in his life would make the difference. Have him get out and play more sport. Walk, run, climb stairs.
2006-08-09 01:34:03 · answer #8 · answered by Gregg H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think that's a good idea as long as he's eating lots of fruit and veg. cutting out snacks and chocolate, fizzy drinks and fast food is always a good thing i reckon. if you're overweight as a child you're more likely to be overweight as an adult...it'll just be harder for him later on. don't cut out milk though - he'll need the calcium!
2006-08-09 01:34:28 · answer #9 · answered by electric liziana 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An 11 year old should not be on a diet,he's still growing.Instead incorporate healthier foods in his meals and snacks.Also think of fun things you can do together that promote fitness.Basketball,swimming,baseball,soccer,you get the idea.
2006-08-09 01:32:17 · answer #10 · answered by Celebrity girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋