To Weigh, or not to Weigh?

Does weighing yourself, as a teen help? Some say that it helps teens become more aware of their weight and that they will not snack as often if teens weigh themselves weekly. Some say that it won't make a difference if they are weighed or not. But some kids still have fears of the scale, and to see what it tells them, even if they are visibly loosing weight.

Can a Scale Solve Teen Obesity? Not So Fast
Obesity Experts Debate Findings of New Study
By NICOLE MARTIN, M.D.
ABC News Medical Unit

Nov. 20, 2008—

Brandy Cruthird, owner of Body by Brandy Fitness Studio for children in Roxbury, Mass., is no stranger to the power of the scale when it comes to obese teens.

"There's an intimidation factor with scales," says Cruthird. "Kids who are overweight don't like to weigh themselves. I've seen kids run from the scale...I've seen kids cry."

Recently, she says, one of her students pleaded, "Please don't put me on the scale," even though it was clear she had lost weight.

Still, with rates of teen obesity on the rise, new research suggests that a weekly appointment with the bathroom scale may be a low-tech, low-cost tool for helping teens maintain healthy weights.

But some experts caution that weigh-ins should be only one part of a multifaceted approach to weight management. More...

Obesity at a Young Age

The amount of obesity in toddlers is raising higher faster. Though you may think that it is just baby fat, have you ever hear heard of a four year old boy weighing 85 pounds? That's the same as an 11 year old boy. New studies have shown thats its never too early to watch a child's diet and help them learn about eating healthy, to help create a healthier lifestyle.

Obesity Epidemic Spreads to Toddlers
Parents Monitor Children's Weight to Prevent Health Complications
By GIGI STONE

Aug. 18, 2008—

John Presley is a playful 4-year-old from Marshfield, Mass., who loves the beach and video games. But, at 86 pounds, John weighs as much as a typical 11-year-old, which raises real health concerns.

"It made me feel worried and sad because you want him to fit in and not be discriminated against," said his mother, Theresa Presley.

John falls into a category that doctors have labeled "super obese;" part of a new epidemic of children as young as 2 and 3 years old who are extremely overweight.

"It's hard as a mother. I feel like I was footing the blame for a lot of it, even though I honestly felt like I was doing the right thing for him," Presley said. More...

Do Fast Food Commercials Really Contribute to Obesity?

Studies have shown that fast food commercial actually do lead to childhood obesity. Some think that if the commercials were banned from childrens television programs, the ammount of obesity would drop. But obese children tend to spend more time in front of the television than other kids. About one-third of the children in America are obese and children are spending more time in front of the television instead of playing outside.

Do TV ads lead to childhood obesity? Economists say yes

Seattle - The more fast-food advertising viewed on TV, the higher the risk of childhood obesity, concludes a study published in the Journal of Law and Economics’ current issue.

If fast food commercials were banned during children’s television shows, the number of overweight or obese children would decrease 18% and overweight teens would decrease 14%, say the study’s lead authors, Lehigh College economist Shin yi Chou and Georgia State University economist Inas Rashad. More...