They may not need to actually lose weight -- just maintain and "grow into it" as they get taller. But if they do need to slim down, experts say teens shouldn't drop more than 2 pounds a week. Talk with your child to get their buy-in.
Children can rapidly lose weight due to a number of environmental, medical, physical or psychological reasons. Since there are many possible triggers, it's best to speak with a pediatrician about the symptoms, what a healthy weight is for your child and how to move forward.
The best way to diet is to eat a variety of healthy food in the right amount. Choose more fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean protein, and drink water instead of sugary drinks like soda, juice, and sports drinks. Cut back on fried foods, sweets, chips, and other junk food.
It is usually easier to lose weight as a teenager than as an adult due in part to metabolic differences. It is beneficial to achieve and maintain a healthy weight as a teen and carry it forward into adulthood.
A 13-year-old boy, Arya Permana from West Java, Indonesia dubbed the world's fattest boy has undergone an incredible transformation after he underwent a weight loss.
It's considered a normal transformation for girls to gain weight, particularly in the stomach area. What is this? Don't fret too much if you notice your daughter is gaining belly fat before puberty. It's all part of the growth plan.
BMI weight ranges
below 18.5 is underweight. between 18.5 and 24.9 is healthy. between 25 and 29.9 is overweight.
Puberty – Increased hormones in a child's body during puberty (between the ages of 10 and 14 for girls and between the ages of 12 and 16 for boys) leads to growth and possible expansion of “baby fat” areas. This typically takes place in girls' belly, breast area and hips. Boys' shoulders will get broader.
These may include your child's diet and eating habits, the lack of physical activity, and personal issues like stress or boredom. One of the reasons why weight-loss programs fail in kids is that parents often set unrealistic goals. Focus on incremental changes, and get the entire family involved in the effort.
Changes in total body weight vary for men and women. Men often gain weight until about age 55, and then begin to lose weight later in life. This may be related to a drop in the male sex hormone testosterone. Women usually gain weight until age 65, and then begin to lose weight.
Average Weight for 13-Year-Olds
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average weight for 13-year-old boys is 100.5 pounds, while the average weight for 13-year-old girls is 101.5 pounds.
By 9 to 10 years old, they need closer to 1,800 calories and by 11 to 13 they need about 2,200. By ages 14 to 17, this bumps up to 2,400 to 2,800 calories each day.
Although some diet plans may recommend consuming 1,000 calories a day or less as an effective tool for weight loss, it is not safe and is an unsustainable way to try and lose weight. Some evidence shows that these diets can promote weight loss.
Lean body mass in girls diminishes from approximately 80 percent to 75 percent by the end of puberty, while the amount of body fat increases. In comparison, the percentage of lean muscle mass in boys increases from about 80 percent to 90 percent by the time they reach adulthood.
The changes that come with puberty include weight gain and, in guys, broader shoulders and increased muscle mass. Because everyone is on a different schedule, some of your friends may have started puberty when they were as young as 8 (if they're girls) or 9 (if they're guys).
For example, a 7-year-old boy who is 3 feet 11 inches (119 cm) tall would have to weigh at least 56.9 pounds (25.8 kg) ( BMI = 17.9) to be considered overweight, and a 13-year-old girl who is 5 feet, 3 inches (160 cm) tall would be considered obese if she weighed 161 pounds (73 kg) ( BMI = 28.5).
Even though a 13 year old who is 70 kg is considered to be overweight as they suggest you should be weighing more like 50 to 60 plus kg, you are a growing teenager (providing that you are still growing, I'm only saying this because when I was your age I stopped growing unfortunately for me).