Weight loss nutrition help

[ann453]

I have a younger sister who is having a lot of problems with her weight. I am off at college so it is hard to help her. My parents are horrible role models in this category, esp. my mother. I have never been as overweight as the rest of my family, mostly because I hated my mother for teaching me such horrible habits and rebelled. I just hate seeing my sister so depressed and having no self-confidence. We have tried doing programs together but she never does them and since I am not home it is really hard. She is always calling herself fatty and my parents just let her call herself that and my mom often does the same thing. As you can tell, my parents dont really support her and I want to get them healthy too. I have talked to them many times about getting her to see a nutritionist and really getting her on track. She is 16, about 5 foot (maybe an inch taller) and weighs now to my knowledge at least 170. It is so hard for her and it hurts me to see her like this. I just wish someone could offer me advice on how to help her. I think she really needs support and home as well. So if anyone has advice on that too, it would be great. I just want my family to be healthy and happy. Thanks.

[star queen]

It is too bad that the family is in such bad shape. Talking to them about diet/exercise isn't going to work so don't.  The more you talk about a healthy diet the less likely they will change. Diet and exercise is boring and takes too much effort.  It doesn't taste nearly as good as those chips and soda, either.  So give it up.  Since your sister is probably depressed along with low self-esteme, find a group she can join for exercise, socialization and fun.  The Mall Walkers power walk around the mall and have fun testing each other all the while having fun doing it. If she finds something that will get her moving and allow an opportunity away from home and school to meet new people she will have fun and end up losing weight in the process.  She, like most teens, will listen to a total stranger before she listens to family. So her new friends will talk to her about diet, zits, boys, etc. and get her out of her depression.  The trick is to get her out of the house and "into" something.  With Christmas coming up  maybe a gift certificate to swimming classes (NOT a gym membership), or archery lessons, or something like that will be excepted.  She won't want to go, but will because you gave her the gift.  Once she gets there and has fun she will continue on her own.  socialization and fun will lift her spirits and she will begin to lose weight on her own. Parents Magazine is free and advertizes activities, classes, and clubs for kids of all ages in your area. You could also check out acting/dance classes where she can learn to be more outgoing, which will lift self-esteme and get her moving around. Once she begins to have fun and lose weight, diet changes will follow.  She will set an example for the parents and maybe they will get on the band wagon, too.  If they do it on their own instead of because you nagged them into it, it will be much better and they are more likely to stick to the new plan.     Hope this helps