Our young people today are getting more figure-conscious. Thanks to the constant exposure to television and the Internet, teenagers, especially girls, now have it ingrained deep in their subconscious to look great. Of course, looking great means not having an ounce of fat in their bodies, like the way their favorite teeny-bopper idols look on television.

The fact that teenagers today are paying more attention to their health is a good thing. It is never too early to inculcate in them the importance of looking good, both for health and aesthetic reasons. The downside is, they are too young and their minds get easily swayed by the numerous fad diets and other unhealthy practices promoted by their role models-- the equally young (and even old) Hollywood celebrities who should just have minded their acting than needlessly give advice on the crash diets that worked best for them.

With all the information that our teenagers have to process today, the role of parents in guiding them towards healthy lifestyle practices cannot be underestimated. The teenage years are turbulent times for any individual physically, emotionally and socially. The pressure to conform to standards set forth by their peers and the corresponding alienation felt by an overweight adolescent among his or her circle is enough to drive him or her to weight loss practices that are unhealthy and dangerous to his or her still growing and developing body.

Weight loss for teens isn't the same as that of full-grown adults inasmuch as their nutritional and exercise requirements are different. A diet that restricts any of their carbohydrate, fat and protein intakes can disrupt growth processes that could prove detrimental to their overall health and development. Putting them on an intense workout sessions could put an injurious strain on their still-developing joints and muscles as well.

Given all these considerations, what can be done to help teems lose weight?

The cornerstone of weight loss for teens is really the promotion of a balanced lifestyle marked by eating nutritious meals, engaging in physical activity and living a healthy life. Eating nutritious meals means encouraging them to eat and snack on fruits, vegetables, meat (beef, chicken, pork and fish) and dairy. The emphasis is not so much on portions (although it is recommended that teenagers, like any other age group, should stop eating as soon as they feel full) but on the quality of foods they eat. fast food joints and malls with lots of fast food choices are popular places to hang out in among teens and if there is any bad habit to be cut, it is their fondness for burgers, French fries and sodas that are the culprits of fatter bodies in our nation today.

A teenager does not have to engage in weight training sessions to lose the fat. What is needed, however, is his or her engagement in a sport to promote physical activity. Teenagers used to be the more active groups, with all their playing, jumping and chasing around, but television and computer has changed all that. Now, the older population is more mobile while the younger set stay glued in front of the computer set for hours on end. Encouraging them to join sports or initiating fun family walks or playing Frisbee together is a great way to keep our teenagers off the couch.

Finally, parents must always encourage healthy lifestyle practices among their teenaged children. This includes getting adequate amounts of sleep and rest, staying away from alcohol and drugs and learning how to cope with stress.