Compassionately

Very gently. Bringing the topic up as more about health than weight.

I suppose becoming physically active could help, maybe a jog together, or a good game of soccer. Bicycling...

This is a great question. I thought I handled my kids weight issues very well as they were growing up. But now they are all in their late teens and are starting to show excess weight gain. And I never pressured them to eat certain foods, I let them eat what they wanted. And NOW we all have to live with the consequences. I wish I would have been more proactive in my approach and insisted on better choices. So be very careful with your kids eating habits they will come back to haunt you !!! I am not saying they are obese but they are heading in that direction.

in front of a mirror.

Honestly, tactfully, lovingly, and from the point of view of health with a strong measure of acceptance and a willingness to listen and be helpful. Perhaps their doctor could be of assistance. Tell them Tom wishes he'd never let it become a problem in his young adulthood. It is a whole lot easier to take care of when one is younger and before the joints start failing.

My daughters aren't teens yet, but my eldest is now 10. She knows plenty about good nutrition from me, TV and her school. If she becomes overweight then I would have an uninterrupted sit down explaining to her that she needs to take the initiative of choosing healthier foods, and I will oversee her choices. That way I also created another ongoing opportunity to give her sincere praise when she chooses healthy things :))

Health is FAR more important than appearance. Teach them that they are loved no matter how big or small they are, but that they need to remain healthy that is MOST important, so they can enjoy a good lifestyle.

My youngest son had weight issues. He couldn't gain. He is now 20, 6'1" and about 140#. Good nutrition is everything. If your child is overweight, make sure they really are. Just because you think they are heavy, doesn't necessarily mean they are. There are a lot of factors that come into play here. Body structure, bone structure, etc. I am 5'6", 135#. I look chubby because I am very short-waisted with long legs. However, my doctor says I am at the right weight/bmi. Eat healthy. Exercise-it doesn't have to be "exercise". Ride a bike, go for walks, take stairs instead of an elevator, cut the grass (not with a riding mower), it's all physical activity that burns calories. Get her/him a physical and talk to the doctor about your concerns to see if they are truely valid. Also, when girls are between 12-16, they begin to build up fat stores in the thighs and hips to prepare for adulthood.

I have read all the answers, and only Chris stated DO something with your child. Yeah, I offered up exercise, but I admit I left out that the parent should do it with the child. I think too many kids are sedentary these days. What happened to going outside to play in the morning and mom saying as you run out the door, "Be home when the street lights come on." I don't think a lot of people my age had weight issues because we didn't have video, computers, etc. We went outside to play.

Many, many people spoke to me about my weight when I was a kid. It never did anything but wound me deeply. What no one ever did was ask questions. No one ever asked if I knew about good nutrition and exercise (I did, my mother taught me about good nutrition from an early age, she never allowed sweets or pop, she never bought snack foods, we never ate at fast food restaraunts). No one ever asked why I was always tired or always hungry. No one ever asked why I breathed through my mouth instead of my nose. No one tracked down why I was sick all the time or why I got hives every spring. It wasn't until a really bad illness in my mid twenties that I found out I had asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinustis and allergies. It wasn't until my mid-thirties that I finally got treatment for those issues. It was about the same time that I found out I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which causes obesity and insulin resistance. It wasn't until 43 that I found out the reason I hurt and I'm tired all the time is fibromyalgia. Perhaps the best way to talk to your teen about weight is to start by asking basic questions, like: "How do you feel?" "Are you tired?" "Do you hurt?" "Is it hard to breathe?" "Are you hungry all the time?" Then, based on the answers you get, schedule an appointment with your child's doctor. I've read estimates that incidence of PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) might run as high as 30% of women. So if your daughter is overweight, there is a good chance she may be fighting that syndrome. If she doesn't have that, there is also the chance of thyroid issues. Before I assume that my child is a glutton or lazy, I'm going to ask if there is an underlying health condition.

If you are concerned about their weight from a health standpoint, start with a consultation with his/her pediatrician. Have them take notes and ask their own questions so they feel like they are participating and in control of their own health. Work out a plan with their doctor that includes diet AND exercise. Be involved and supportive...buy foods that are healthy yet fun for kids and plan physical activities that include the whole family such as participating in "walks" - like for breast cancer, CP or something like that - flag football games or take them to your weekly yoga class. Make your point about their health and not about their looks. If they're only slightly overweight in your eyes, such as a young girl who has 10-15 extra pounds on her, leave it be. If you make such a small bit a big deal, you could inadvertently be contributing to the beginnings an eating disorder.

introduce a new way of living. if you start to be healthy your teenager will follow. you have to set a good example

over or under weight? either way, get them into a group counseling program