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Is 13 too young for a diet ?????

bikecheryl
bikecheryl Posts: 1,432 Member
edited November 25 in Debate Club
"In February, the world's oldest and largest weight-loss company announced it will offer children ages 13 to 17 free summer memberships as part of its strategy to more than double revenue and memberships by the end of 2020."

"They will have free access to Weight Watchers when they join with an adult, helping them develop healthy habits at a critical life stage," new CEO Mindy Grossman said during an employee event in New York on Feb. 7."

I'm torn as I can seriously see the Pro's and Con's.

What's your take ??????
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Replies

  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    People are being all up in arms about this. We don't know what their plan is and if it follows the same points principles, in which case that wouldn't be the best choice for teenagers. They may have a whole new system set up specifically for kids that doesn't involve restricting and instead encourages intake of more nutritious foods. That would be an okay idea and not any different from any generic "eat better" advice but with a structure. No need to over react to this before we see what they are planning.

    Well said. Although initially this rubs me the wrong way, I think it's important to see what they're actually going to be offering the teenagers before getting upset. It could be something really different than what we may think of as a typical WW plan.
  • saintor1
    saintor1 Posts: 376 Member
    The overweight kids should definitely adjust down their food intake. It is dieting, then yes be it.
  • mreichard
    mreichard Posts: 235 Member
    In some ways, joining with an adult may make it worse for teens, although it makes sense that you don't want teens doing something like WW without close adult supervision. My teen DS will avoid doing things that HE wants to do if I suggest them.

    An example just happened -- he has today off school, so he was sleeping in. I mentioned to him at like 10:00 that if he wanted to get a workout in before an appointment at 1:00, he should think about getting up. The result was that he stayed in bed extra time, even though he really wanted to work out, and how he's hurrying to get his lifting in before his appointment. That seems to be what's so tough with teens -- their need to assert independence works against doing other stuff that is in their best interest if parents suggest it.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 654 Member
    edited March 2018
    I just read an article today about WW. I believe it said that in May, it's going to shift it's focus from weight loss to "overall health and wellness" at any fitness level. So I'm just wondering if this was a good time to announce something going forward with teens. It's not stated in the article, so it's a total assumption on my part.

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/weight-watchers-is-shifting-from-weight-loss-to-wellness-as-healthy-is-the-new-skinny-2018-02-28
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I think that's about the time I started dieting, as in paying attention to my weight. I wasn't fat then, but maybe I would have become fat if I hadn't done it.

    Some children's hospitals now offer bariatric surgery for teens. These are crazy desperate times.
  • JMcGee2018
    JMcGee2018 Posts: 275 Member
    It depends. A fad diet? Absolutely not. A diet that they are forced into following by their parents because the parents are embarrassed about their child's weight? Also absolutely not. However, if a 13-year-old feels self-conscious about his or her body, their parents and pediatrician can help guide them toward healthier choices before the child starts to take drastic and unhealthy actions themselves. Also, given the rate of childhood obesity, diets may be necessary for more and more children for health reasons.

    Depending how WW implements their idea, it might not be bad, especially the freestyle plan which I think allows unlimited fruits and vegetables because they're worth zero points and would encourage kids toward healthier snack choices.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Ha.
    In February, the world's oldest and largest weight-loss company


    This reminds me of any number of controversial ideas. "Worlds oldest and largest soft drink company [Coca Cola] changes its recipe" News at 11.

    I think it's brilliant marketing.


  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    We are trying to head off weight issues early by setting a good example and signing them up for sports.

    We teach that treats are once in awhile, eating out (including fast food) is a treat, to stop when you are full and start with a small portion cause you can have more if you are still hungry.

    I understand the struggle of being bigger than other girls my age. I’m pretty sure by 13 I was really self conscious. I don’t want my daughters or my son to feel that way. I think 13 is young to be on a diet program especially one that would make other kids make fun of them, but some 13 year olds are quite mature. It would definitely depend on the kid and their parent and doctor.

    I think sports participation really helps with body confidence. My daughters swim on a team and my son wrestles. We take the kids bike riding and the park regularly when the weather is nice.

  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    I have a heavy 10yo boy and I did get him a Garmin Jr so we can compete for steps and he SEES me weigh my food. I think 13 is a little early, maybe 16-17-18 once they've "grown" taller. I'm hoping he leans out with time but we are taking the lead by example approach. It wouldn't surprise me if he dieted on his own if he were still chubby in his late teens. Thankfully for him he won't be doing something completely idiotic like WW because his mom is well versed in thermodynamics haha
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I think a weight loss diet can be appropriate for teenagers. If a 13 year old is very overweight it is appropriate for them to lose weight.
    I am not sure if weight watchers or the like are appropriate services to use to guide or monitor that. I don't think WW is aeesome for adults so I am not going to say it is great for teens but I don't know what is out there for teens to use. Teens aren't supposed to use this site. I believe sparkteens shut down and sparkpeople is also age 18 and up.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Lounmoun wrote: »
    I think a weight loss diet can be appropriate for teenagers. If a 13 year old is very overweight it is appropriate for them to lose weight.
    I am not sure if weight watchers or the like are appropriate services to use to guide or monitor that. I don't think WW is aeesome for adults so I am not going to say it is great for teens but I don't know what is out there for teens to use. Teens aren't supposed to use this site. I believe sparkteens shut down and sparkpeople is also age 18 and up.

    Yes, this is a problem I've noticed too. No resources at all for teens anywhere. I hope someday there will be a streamlined online resource where teens can monitor their progress that also has tools their doctor can use to personalize a plan.
  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    I have a heavy 10yo boy and I did get him a Garmin Jr so we can compete for steps and he SEES me weigh my food. I think 13 is a little early, maybe 16-17-18 once they've "grown" taller. I'm hoping he leans out with time but we are taking the lead by example approach. It wouldn't surprise me if he dieted on his own if he were still chubby in his late teens. Thankfully for him he won't be doing something completely idiotic like WW because his mom is well versed in thermodynamics haha

    My nephews were bulking up despite playing lots of sports. My sister started asking them if they are really hungry or just bored. A lot of times they are bored. One of them bought an activity tracker with his birthday money cause he loves gadgets. They’ve both slimmed down quite a bit. My sister admits that a lot of it is on her to make sure she has healthy choices for them- they are very picky eaters.
  • Sp1tfire
    Sp1tfire Posts: 1,120 Member
    I think a more active lifestyle and healthy options should be encouraged (but not forced) and made more readily available over unhealthy options. That age is too malleable and it would be so easy to twist their minds and ruin their body image. Encouraging activity, fruits and veggies is what I would do. I like the 'sometimes and always foods' method.
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    zdyb23456 wrote: »
    I have a heavy 10yo boy and I did get him a Garmin Jr so we can compete for steps and he SEES me weigh my food. I think 13 is a little early, maybe 16-17-18 once they've "grown" taller. I'm hoping he leans out with time but we are taking the lead by example approach. It wouldn't surprise me if he dieted on his own if he were still chubby in his late teens. Thankfully for him he won't be doing something completely idiotic like WW because his mom is well versed in thermodynamics haha

    My nephews were bulking up despite playing lots of sports. My sister started asking them if they are really hungry or just bored. A lot of times they are bored. One of them bought an activity tracker with his birthday money cause he loves gadgets. They’ve both slimmed down quite a bit. My sister admits that a lot of it is on her to make sure she has healthy choices for them- they are very picky eaters.

    My kids are amazing when they're at my house but I share custody with my ex and they eat a lot of calorie dense foods over there. I do my best to mind my son's options (I don't limit his food by any means but I do make ALL of our food less calorie dense because I am watching my weight too lol) He loves salads with lean meat and we have 1/2 rice 1/2 cauliflower things like that. At my exes it's deep fried, covered in cheese and sausage on top. It's not awful now and then but for a kid that plays video games more than he walks, it's too much.

    I've discussed it with my ex and he thinks because it's home made it's fine and he'll grow out of it. ugh
  • WillingtoLose1001984
    WillingtoLose1001984 Posts: 240 Member
    edited March 2018
    bikecheryl wrote: »
    "In February, the world's oldest and largest weight-loss company announced it will offer children ages 13 to 17 free summer memberships as part of its strategy to more than double revenue and memberships by the end of 2020."

    "They will have free access to Weight Watchers when they join with an adult, helping them develop healthy habits at a critical life stage," new CEO Mindy Grossman said during an employee event in New York on Feb. 7."

    I'm torn as I can seriously see the Pro's and Con's.

    What's your take ??????

    I think it's good. I was old enough and mature enough at 13 to follow a diet like WW. Doing nothing isn't going to help a young teenager any and they could be worse off in the long run. I believe i was way worse off because I was self-aware of my weight and would get depressed because of it and felt so ashamed of myself at that time. i didnt want to go anywhere around people because of it and I don't believe i was even in the obese 'weight range still overweight though.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    edited March 2018
    I'm really not sure what would be the best way to handle teenagers. Some kids are made to feel insecure about their weight so they develop problems. Some parents try to help their kids by restricting access to high calorie food, and they feel deprived and develop problems, and then there are cases like mine where I was fat when I was 13 but no one made me feel bad about it or tried to change anything about my food and I developed problems because I didn't feel being fat was something I needed to change. I'm not even sure restricting access to junk food is even that effective because of my own experience, we didn't restrict junk food but it was just not a regular part of our eating habits. I was also on the volleyball team and dabbled in shot put. None of that prevented me from being and staying obese. Can anything even be done about childhood obesity? Does anyone have any stories about something that worked for a kid other than leaning out after a growth spurt like it happens sometimes?
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