Obesity is a condition that is on the rise in all parts of the world. An estimated 5 million teens are obese (>35 body mass Index BMI) in the US (2004). Because of obesity, many people are experiencing some significant health issues. Obesity is in many (not all) teenagers is a food-addiction illness.

Food addiction is difficult to treat but can be an underlying reason for the weight problem. Drug addiction programs with intensive therapy and supervision have proven to be effective models in obesity treatment.  A cycle of poor self esteem, overeating, sedentary lifestyle and generalized health problems (joint and back pain, diabetes, hypertension) are some of the underlying findings seen in teens who are obese.

There are two websites that have present and encourage different strategies through education and support to assist teens in overcoming obesity. One is http://weigh2rock.com and another is http://letsmove.gov. Simple strategies like decreasing screen time and making some type of physical activity a part of your daily routine are recommended.

These may sound simple but to a teenager they require a great deal of effort. This generation of teens spend many hours a day sitting at a screen, not engaged in physical activity (due to pain or weight related limits). The isolation that comes with increasing hours of computer time also leads to poor self esteem. See more info on the  sites above  and encourage a child/teen that may be trying to overcome obesity.