Almost 9 million (15%) children in America alone between the ages of 6 and 19 are overweight. This number is still rising according to information gathered between 1999 and 2000 (triple the number of 1980). The information has also shown that another 15% of children between the ages of 6 and 19 are at risk of becoming overweight also.

Obesity is defined as having an excessive accumulation of body fat which will result in the person's body being about 20% heavier than their ideal body weight. So those people whose weight is above what is considered their ideal range, are defined as being overweight. Obesity is a common eating disorder that is associated with teens.

Although teens may have fewer weight related health issues than adults, those teens that are overweight now are much more likely to be come overweight as an adult. Teens who are overweight (in fact people of all ages that are overweight) are at risk from a number of different health issues, and these include:

1. Heart Disease

2. Diabetes

3. High Blood Pressure

4. Strokes

5. Some forms of Cancer

6. Lower Self Esteem

7. Higher Stress and Peer Problems

Teens who are obese may find that they are not only physically unfit, but their well being is usually very low as well. Obese people also face having a shorter life expectancy than those who are the average weight for their body size. Plus, it can also lead to social disabilities and unhappiness.

A study that was carried and details which were released in May 2004 suggested that overweight children are more likely to be involved in bullying than those children who are a normal weight. But they can not only be the victims of bullying, they might be the bullies as well.

The development of their own personal identity and body image is an important goal for any teenager.

There are a number of causes for obesity which center around an imbalance in the teens energy they put into their bodies. The culprit might be the type of calories that they obtain from the food they eat. Or how good their metabolism is, and how much physical activity they have daily.

When a teen is overweight, it is because there is a problem with the nutritional value of their diet. This causes a delay in the body telling the brain to shut off the feelings of hunger. Or it may be psychological, lifestyle situations, even food allergies.

Family and Social Weight Loss Factors

Often children and teens are more at risk of becoming overweight if they have two overweight parents. Although in some cases, this may be due to a powerful genetic factor, or it may be because they are modeling themselves after what they see their parents eating. Children also model their parents type and level of activities. So physical activities, if any, you take part in, can directly affect your teen.

Higher Lifestyle Activity Levels play an essential Weight Loss role.

On average, an American child will spend several hours each day watching television or on a computer. Compare this to years ago, when this time would have been spent doing some form of physical activity instead. There are a large amount of teens and children who are now overweight, as they are expending little energy, and often eat high calorie snacks while watching TV or playing on the computer.

Is Heredity a Critical Factor in Weight Loss?

Recently, information has shown that heredity can be an influence in both children and teens. Children born to overweight mothers have been found to be less active. Typically they gain more weight by the age of 3 months compared to those children born to mothers who are the ?average? weight.

What can overweight teens do, and how can they lose weight successfully without resorting to dangerous fad diets? Click on the Link in my Resource Box Below and Sign up for the free global Weight Loss Tips 2008 video. - Glen B. Stewart