Many teenage girls face the problem of obesity during puberty. So how can they lose weight during puberty? It's generally not recommended to use any weight loss drugs during puberty; instead, focus on controlling weight through diet and exercise. We also need to understand three key points for weight loss during puberty.
I. Physiological Changes
Characteristics: After entering puberty, the body develops rapidly and exhibits obvious secondary sexual characteristics, such as significant increases in height and weight, female development, and gradual fuller body.
It's important to note that weight gain during this period includes not only an increase in the size of fat cells but also an increase in the number of fat cells due to continued cell division. These additional fat cells will not disappear. Therefore, weight management during this period has a direct impact on future weight.
Solution: We need to have a correct understanding of weight gain during puberty. As long as the body mass index (BMI) is within the acceptable range, it is considered healthy and a normal physiological characteristic. On the other hand, it is important to maintain a balanced diet, engage in reasonable exercise, and appropriately control weight. However, it is crucial to avoid blindly dieting, such as eliminating staple foods and only eating fruits and vegetables, or using other harmful weight loss methods, as these will definitely affect normal development.
II. Psychological Changes
Characteristics: Adolescence is a transitional period in a person's psychology and a crucial time for personality formation. During this period, children's psychology tends to become more complex. German child psychologist Charlotte Bühler called this period the "passive resistance period." This rebellious tendency can involve family, friends, and teachers, leading to strained interpersonal relationships and increasing the child's psychological burden.
For girls, the first challenge is the physiological changes caused by hormones, such as changes in body appearance and the onset of menstruation, which can lead to feelings of unease and self-doubt. Coupled with the significant influence of popular culture on adolescent girls, they are prone to extreme emotional responses to weight gain. The gradually awakening desire for attention from the opposite sex, coupled with the maturing of their bodies, also leaves many developing girls feeling lost and uncertain. Furthermore, due to differences in intellectual development between the sexes, girls at this stage no longer have a clear advantage in learning, and may even find themselves at a disadvantage. All these changes create considerable pressure for women during this period.
Solutions: Adolescence is a crucial period for the formation of personality and physical health. Regarding weight, children should understand the inevitability of natural physiological changes and not worry excessively about weight gain. The psychological fluctuations children experience regarding weight should not be simply attributed to numerical changes; they may be accompanied by underlying issues such as self-confidence and anxiety. Children themselves should learn to relieve stress through positive means such as exercise and broad social interaction, communicate more with family and friends, and build good interpersonal relationships.
III. Lifestyle
Characteristics: In terms of diet, due to their growth and development period, they have a strong appetite, especially for snacks. After class, a few girls get together to buy some snacks, which is undoubtedly one of their greatest pleasures outside of class. To relieve stress from various aspects, food is often their outlet, and overeating is frequent. Many people, especially girls at this age, often argue with their parents about watching TV, and watching TV and eating snacks are also part of their enjoyment.
Regarding exercise, girls entering puberty tend to prefer a more sedentary lifestyle. Changes in weight and body shape, along with menstruation, further discourage them from physical activity. They'd rather sit in the classroom all day than go outside, let alone exercise on the playground. Solution: Snacks like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and potato chips should be consumed in moderation. Even without considering future weight, gaining weight is undesirable in the short term. Replace snacks with fruit, which satisfies cravings and is rich in vitamins, whose health benefits are well-known. At the same time, reduce the intake of high-fat foods and increase the consumption of foods rich in high-quality protein, vitamins, and minerals, such as fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy products, vegetables, and fruits. A balanced diet is essential for healthy development.
Everyone knows the benefits of exercise, but few people can maintain a regular exercise routine and stick to one sport for a long time. Women in this stage are mostly in school, with excellent opportunities for exercise. They can use school physical education classes or other extracurricular activities to engage in physical training, cultivate one or more sports skills, and make them a lifelong sporting hobby. This will benefit them throughout their lives.
