Weigh Watchers for teens?

[mom42860]

Posted this on the CB and KathyTX suggested a repost here; My DD (14) is really unhappy with her weight. I have tried to reassure her and suggest exercise and healthy eating, but it is not helping and she is dreading summer. I know from close friends that weight watchers is a great program and am wondering if she would be allowed to join. And could anyone reccomend a meeting in the Cape Ann area of Massachusetts? Or is there another program that would be better?

 

[PAdisMOM]

I hear WW is really good, but I can'r give you any info.

Another diet I read up on recently was Sugar Busters. They have a specific program for kids. It is a controlled carbohydrate program. Their web site is www.sugarbusters.com. It gives lots of info and sample menus so she could see if this is a program that interests her.

 

[FergieTCat]

I highly recommend Weight Watchers, and I wish someone had taught me good eating habits when I was still a teen.

Check out www.weightwatchers.com which will give you locations of meetings in your area.

 

[KathyTX]

Hello again, mom42860!

I found two Weight Watchers centers that may be near you (or not... I'm geographically impaired regarding your area). One in Salem and one in Danvers. Are either of these near you? Both of them have many meetings each week.

There are also meetings off site in Ipswich, Gloucester and Newburyport.

There are a few requirements to join. Because Weight Watchers stresses health, not simply weight loss, they want to be sure that their plan will be physically and mentally appropriate. I think these are good things, and would reassure me if I were in your position.

Here are some that may apply to your situation:

* teens (and women nursing a child) who want to attend meetings must follow a specific plan and policies to meet their specific requirements. (for instance, teens' growing bodies require more milk/calcium.)

* Weight Watchers prohibits participation in its weight loss plan by those individuals with an active medical diagnosis of bulimia nervosa, those whose weight is less than 5 pounds above the minimum weight of the Weight Watchers Weight Ranges, and during pregnancy. (If you tell me your daughter's height, I can tell you what Weight Watchers has defined as the minimum and maximum of the weight range for her.)

*The Weight Watchers weight loss plan is designed for a safe rate of weight loss — up to two pounds per week (after the first three weeks). If you lose at a greater rate, you must review the plan guidelines and adapt them, if necessary, to avoid rapid weight loss. Not following the plan as designed may pose the risk of developing health complications associated with rapid weight loss.

Because of the focus on overall health, and the weekly monitoring of progress and opportunity to discuss challenges/problems/successes, I think this would be a healthy and safe way for a teen to get in touch with healthy eating habits.

There is no food that's off-limits on WW. The focus is on low-fat choices, learning reasonable portion sizes, fruits and vegetables. There's also an emphasis on exercise and physical activity.

There are a couple of teens at the meeting I attend. Also some grandmothers. Lots of 20-30-40 year olds. A few men. Just a big mix of all kinds of people, so I don't think anyone would feel out of place in this sort of group.

 

[lindamg]

Due to recent medical research that kids do not successfully lose weight on the same programs as adults, Weight Watchers has changed their policy. Children under 10 will not be permitted to join for any reason. Teens may only join with written authorization from a doctor. (Just read this in my WW magazine)

 

[KathyTX]

Hmmm... interesting, Linda. I'm glad you found that.

That's also what it says in the Welcome booklet I got in January. But the website seems to still have the old info (that's where I found what I posted above.)

Sounds like a good move. So teens are still welcome, but WW wants to have a doctor's clearance.

This sounds like a responsible way to screen out teens with potential eating disorders. (We sure don't want to further complicate the psyche of a bulimic or anorexic. )