Good afternoon everyone,
I would like to welcome today’s Ask The Author guest, Anne M. Fletcher, who is joining us to talk about her newest book, Weight Loss Confidential: How Teens Lose Weight and Keep It Off—and What They Wish Parents Knew.
For her award-winning bestseller, Thin For Life, Anne went straight to the real experts - hundreds of adults who lost weight and kept it off. Now, she's discovered the success strategies of more than 100 formerly overweight teens for her new book, Weight Loss Confidential: How Teens Lose Weight and Keep It Off - And What They Wish Parents Knew. Featured on the TODAY SHOW, and the EARLY SHOW, this is the first book written from the perspective of young people from all walks of life who have succeeded at healthy weight management.
Please join us today to discuss your own family’s weight loss struggles and seek Anne’s advice for how families can work together to become healthier.
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Click here to read excerpts from Weight Loss Confidential
And check out some of the recent publicity for Weight Loss Confidential:
New York Times -half page feature, 1/16/07
"Overweight Teens Bear an Extra Burden" - USA Today, 1/4/07
The CBS "Early Show," 1/8/07
The NBC "Today Show,"1/10/07
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Comments: 63
People often gain the weight back on fad diets because they don't adopt eating habits they can live with – for life. I've now studied more than 300 adults and teens who've lost weight and kept it off (I call them the "masters" of weight control) – very, very few of them followed fad diets. Their diets are rich in healthy carbs from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains? Who wants to give up carbs?!
Thanks
The stat on the likelihood of becoming an overweight adult if a teen has two overweight parents comes from the scientific literature, probably from the general population. My book is about success stories, and I try to make it clear that, even if the odds are against you, you can still lose weight and keep it off, as most of the teens came from families in which one parent was overweight. But they succeeded!
You're right that breakfast-eating is important, and most teen and adult maintainers said they don't skip it. My books Thin for Life and Eating Thin for Life have lots of recipes –they're tested recipes from the "masters". Also, Weight Loss Confidential lists some healthy cookbooks and resources in the appendices.
As a parent of one of the teens who's lost weight and kept it off (my son, Wes, lost 65 pounds when he was 18, and he's kept it off for about 5 years), and as an author who interviewed parents about what works and what doesn't work when trying to help an overweight teen, I can say that the one thing that really stands out is this:
Nagging, preaching, and being a food cop just don't work. The teen has to want to lose weight for him- or herself. In the meantime, parents need to be good role models for healthy eating and exercise. The book also tells how to look for "windows of opportunity" with teens.
As for BMI report cards, I think that it's a mistake to send home such information without giving parents and kids tools to know what to do with the information. Weight Loss Confidential does offer lots of tools, so it should help in this regard.
I'm not sure that school is the place where kids should be taught extensively about the dangers of either eating disorders or obesity. I say this because I don't think most teachers are adequately trained to give this information to teens, nor to field the questions that might arise. However, I do think schools can teach kids tools for healthy weight management, without focusing on weight per se. Many of these strategies are in Weight Loss Confidential in the 6th chapter, "Eating to Keep It Off."
For advice about starting the conversation with a teen, I'll refer you to one of my favorite stories in the book. A mom shared how she's gone clothes shopping with her overweight daughter and noticed how unhappy the girl was in the dressing room. The mom never said a word about weight, but that night as she tucked her daughter in bed, she said that she noticed how unhappy the girl seemed when she was trying on clothes. The child said, "Yes," and the mom asked then if it was because of her weight. That soft approach opened the door to the two of them joining Weight Watchers and for the daughter to lose about 60 pounds.
I see that Taryn says that she has trouble choosing a healthy dinner... I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and seem to manage just fine, until about 8pm. That's the hardest time for me. Can you suggest some sensible snacks that will satisfy my cravings and still be healthy?
Thanks!
Of course, one of the stories that's near and dear to me is that of my son, whose experiences inspired the writing of Weight Loss Confidential. When at an academic camp one summer, he met another boy who'd lost weight, and they started trading weight-loss tips (certainly not a "guy thing.") It was the first time that my son (whose other friends made fun of him when he ordered a Diet Coke) could talk about his weight with a peer. When my son told me how inspiring this experience was for him, it occurred to me that "teens helping other teens" with weight management was a great idea for a book.
Of course, one of the stories that's near and dear to me is that of my son, whose experiences inspired the writing of Weight Loss Confidential. When at an academic camp one summer, he met another boy who'd lost weight, and they started trading weight-loss tips (certainly not a "guy thing.") It was the first time that my son (whose other friends made fun of him when he ordered a Diet Coke) could talk about his weight with a peer. When my son told me how inspiring this experience was for him, it occurred to me that "teens helping other teens" with weight management was a great idea for a book.
Some people say that not eating after a certain time in the evening is critical for weight management, but I think it depends on the person. What matters most is your total calorie intake for the day. And if you're hungry at night and have some calories left to "spend" in the evening, then there's nothing wrong with having a snack like any of the following, in a reasonable portion size (check the label!): low-fat popcorn, pretzels, whole wheat crackers and cheese, fruit of any type, low-fat frozen yogurt, ice cream, or pudding.
When it comes to helping an overweight sibling, I think it depends on the age of the child. But regardless of the age, the message I heard from the parents in WLC is that no one child should be singled out-in other words, healthy foods should be available for everyone in the family, not just the ones who are overweight. They also stressed limiting the availability of higher-fat, high-cal foods and finding ways to help kids be more active. Also, it's important that kids be loved unconditionally and that weight not be the focus of your relationship with them.
Most experts feel that a safe rate of weight loss for an adult is 1 to 2 pounds per week. Anyone who's attempting weight loss, both adults and kids, should do so under the supervision of a physician. It's also good to consult a registered dietitian who has expertise with weight management.
Thanks, I thought you were going to tell me I could munch on some carrots, so I'm totally excited to have you say I could have some pretzels (in moderation of course)! It's good to know that it doesn't necessarily matter what time I am eating, but more important to watch my calorie intake... Thanks again...
I think that when someone is first starting to lose weight, it can be very helpful to count calories and to weigh and measure food. Why? because most of us are clueless about portion size and calorie content of various foods. However, I don't think it's necessary to become fanatic about it. What seems to be most important is the act of writing down what you eat. When my weight starts creeping up, I just write down what I eat (no calorie counting) in a little booklet and this helps me get back on track.
I found that the teens and the adults use similar strategies: watching portion sizes, exercising regularly, keeping track of what they eat, snacking smarter, cutting back on fat, eating more fruits and veggies, etc. However, the teens were more inclined to talk about the importance of cutting back on (or cutting out) regular soda pop. I do recommend that teens try to seek out weight programs specifically designed for them, however, and many such programs are springing up at hospitals and places like YMCAs all over the country. Weight Loss Confidential lists many resources and tells how to choose a weight program for a teen.
I discovered my love of writing when I was working as assistant director of an obesity clinic. I counseled hundreds of patients and enjoyed developing patient education materials, as well as newsletters for the practice. On a lark, I sent a proposal to Vogue Magazine, and they assigned me 2 articles, which is how I got my start.
My wife likes to drink diet soda, but I enjoy gatorade and juice - she says they are filled with sugar. I've read that ingredients in diet soda are as harmful as well - which is really better for you?
For both Thin for Life and Weight Loss Confidential, the "masters" of weight control (both teens and adults) stressed that drinking more water is a useful tool. However, there's no scientific evidence that drinking water does anything magic for weight loss. I think that when people drink more water, it's often taking the place of calorie-containing beverages like regular soda and juice. In this way, it can help with weight loss. Unless someone's quite the athlete, I discourage sport drinks which are largely sugar water. The low-sugar ones, like Propel, are just fine, however.
I think we should be concerned about being overweight at any age, as we are seeing weight-related health problems in young kids that we never or rarely saw in the past. However, particularly with kids, weight is an issue that should be addressed with the help of a physician and a registered dietitian to make sure it's handled in the right way. As for BMI report cards, see my response to Katrina, above.
Your wife is right that juice and sports drinks have a fair amount of sugar. While there's nothing wrong with sugar, in moderation, it seems that "liquid calories" don't trigger our sense of fullness the way solid calories do. Think about how much more satisfying a whole orange is compared to a glass of juice. I have no problem with diet beverages and think they can be helpful for weight management. I know of no scientific evidence that they are harmful, despite all the hearsay.
I believe, as do many other experts, that inactivity plays just as important a role as overeating when it comes to causes for weight gain. Most people just don't get enough exercise. Many experts feel we should get at least an hour a day. The good news is that you don't have to become a marathon runner – the number-one form of exercise for the adult "masters" in Thin for Life is walking. And most of them vary their exercise, which helps to keep things from being boring.
I avoid using negative words, like "cheat days" as I think they can set some people up for overeating and bad feelings. Most of my weight-loss success stories allow themselves treats on a regular basis – they don't deprive themselves. Some people find that it helps to allow themselves a modest amount of "treat" foods on a regular basis and to not see it as "cheating." When the "masters" slip and eat something they hadn't planned for, they just start anew and don't beat on themselves. But you have to find what works for you.
I have one more question. My boss said he heard today on CNN that some people are taking to eating spicy things such as tabasco sauce before they eat a meal, and this curbs their appetitie and causes them to lose weight! Is there any truth to this!? (By the way, it is NOT something I thinking of doing... more just curious to see about this myth!)
I think from your comment that you recognize that it's important to try to be a role model for healthy eating for your kids. It IS hard when you don't like vegetables. Can you find ways to make them more palatable, say, with a little butter spray or Mrs. Dash seasonings? Or perhaps raw veggies with some low-fat dip will go down more easily. When my kids went through stages when they wouldn't eat veggies, I'd serve fruit with every meal, along with the entree.
The Tabasco strategy is a new one to me. As with any gimmick, I ask, "Is it something you can do for life?" If not, it probably won't work for long. And I'm not sure it's even good for you!
At any one time, I have several book ideas percolating. I have several I'm mulling, again having to do with people who have "mastered" certain problems. At the moment, they are under wraps! I welcome your ideas for new topics.
What are the best fruits to snack on?
Should I be more concerned about calories or sugar content?
Thanks!
Actually, I don't think that women are more predisposed than men to weight gain around the middle. I think it depends on the woman – some of us are shaped more like apples and tend to gain weight around the waist, while others of us are pear-shaped and pack on the weight on our hips and thighs. However, it does seem that women deposit more belly fat as they age. I'm not sure why, perhaps hormonal changes. And for all of us, as we age, the body becomes proportionately more fat and less muscle. Stepping up exercise may slow down this process and doing some resistance training can help as well.
I think fruits make great between-meal snacks. But I don't think there's any advantage of one over another. It does seem to help with hunger pangs to have a bit of protein with each meal or snack, so perhaps have some low-fat cheese or a few nuts with that fruit?
Meagan S. asked whe is the most important piece of advice you'd offer to teenagers who are struggling with weight.
What about their parents? It must be so hard to watch your child struggling.
I know it's hard to accept that you can't be on top of things once your child goes to school. You can set the tone for healthy foods at home, but it's going to be up to her to make her own choices at school. Sometimes, when parents make a big issue about sweets and foods in general, it can make kids want them all the more. Many schools now have wellness policies in place and I encourage parents to get involved in such initiatives as it gives you a voice in what foods are available on school campuses.
I guess the most important piece of advice I'd offer teens is to believe in themselves and to know that it's possible to reach a healthier weight. The teens in Weight Loss Confidential can help boost that confidence. I'd also encourage them to set a realistic weight goal, as most teens said that they know it's not realistic to strive to look like the skinny minnies they see in the media. As for parents, love your child unconditionally and help them develop lots of things they can feel good about. With my own son, we did not allow his weight to be the focus of our relationship. We praised and encouraged his academic talents and he feels this empowered him to eventually take charge of his weight.