A wobbly butt and a sweaty belly are among Maria’s biggest nightmares and a major impediment to the 15 year-old’s ability to maintain the minimum 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Although a recent trip and fall incident made her even more self-conscious about working out in public, her greatest worry is what others might think, or say, about her weight.
“She runs in the dark just to avoid attracting attention,” says Maria’s terrified mom, who demanded anonymity, fearing for her overweight daughter’s safety and well-being.
“I wish my daughter did not care so much about what others think, but I don’t know how to help her overcome her fears,” Maria’s mother says. “I’m not certain they’re justified and they are just heart breaking.”
“These kind of fears, whether real or imagined, can be extremely intimidating, particularly to a teen or tween,” says Meg McKeough, D.O., a pediatrician and medical director of the Henry Ford Health System’s (HFHS) “Let’s Get Healthy” team. She reports that puberty brings many challenges as kids’ bodies change, making them super sensitive.
“There are a lot of reasons why kids suddenly begin to avoid exercise,” McKeough says. “Many of them begin around puberty as our children’s bodies begin to mature. As parents, we need to be prepared to understand and address them.”
Think you’re alone in this? You’re not. McKeough says the challenge is universal to parents everywhere.
“The majority of kids will become uncomfortable with their changing bodies at this time,” she says.
And, for overweight youth, parents can expect that normal discomfort to be intensified and become even more pronounced and uncomfortable.
Such discomfort triggers participation avoidance, according to McKeough.
“At this age, not only are kids fearful of their ability to compete or blend in, they also worry that their clothing may not hide sweat, breast enlargement or stretch marks, which are big concerns to an image-conscious tween or teen,” she says.
A research study conducted by Dove Hair Care revealed that one in three girls will avoid exercise or workouts in order to maintain her hair style.
The problem is particularly prevalent among African Americans, according to Dr. Army McMichael, who conducted a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study which reported that nearly 40 percent will avoid exercise because of their hair.
“Boy breasts”, common among pubescent boys, is a major impediment to forms of public exercise, particularly organized sports, according to experts.
The medical term for the condition is gynecomastia.
Although it’s helpful to understand that in 90 percent of all cases the condition resolves itself within three years, it seldom provides comfort to our self-conscious sons.
Muslim girls face particular challenges to exercise- from respecting religious principles which require them to maintain modesty and body covering- to the struggle to fit in a sexually-charged environment where twerking seemingly has become a multicultural rite of passage for many teens.
Obesity is the most common factor cited among youth who avoid exercise.
“I spent years hiding and eating my problems away,” says Edgar Hernandez in a Facebook post which reflects the intense bullying he faced in his teens due to his 370 pound weight.
The incidence of bullying among obese youth is about 63 percent, according to a 2010 study conducted by U of M. The figures are fairly consistent with intake reports in formalized youth weight management programs, according to McKeough.
If situations like Maria’s and Edgar’s continue to persist unchecked, the lives and self-esteem of suffers can be damaged, according to McKeough, who recommends that parents resist the urge to immediately jump in and “fix” their kid’s problem.
Empower them, instead.
“It’s best to become a really good listener,” she says. “It’s important that we clarify what our child is afraid of and to equip them with useful tools to address their specific concern.
“If bullying is the problem, I recommend that parents prepare their children to remain calm and have an assertive statement ready to deflect the bully. If things progress, parental intervention or professional support may be needed.”
Attitude is everything.
“‘Run girl, run,’ are words that Maria and other girls should hear in their heads daily,” says Rhonda Taylor, an avid runner and mother of two. “That ‘you got this’ mentality goes a long way with teens who want to figure things out on their own.”
According to McKeough, parents can help their kids by looking for ways to get them moving with activities they may like but may not have tried, like karate, tennis or golf.
“Lead by example,” she says. “Many of our ‘Let’s Get Healthy’ and other youth weigh management program participants respond well to activities which involve the entire family. “Walk the walk. Show your kids that you value exercise, by making time for it. For many of us, that means reducing our screen times.”
Hernandez, who has successfully maintained his 200-pound weight loss following his type 2 diabetes diagnosis, is now encouraging other teens to do the same through his “Run with Edgar” Facebook page.
“You don’t encourage people to take care of their body by telling them to hate it, states teen blogger Laci Green. “They have to love the s– out of it first.”
Researcher Dr. Eric Storch of the University of Florida discovered that as rates of peer victimization among overweight kids went up, their rates of physical activity went down. According to Storch, if we want to raise healthy kids, we have to help our kids find new ways to combat negative experiences that are centered on physical activities.
Campaigns like #thisgirlcan, which features girls of all sizes happily woggling, jiggling and sweating like no one’s business, go a long way toward inspiring a generation of kids to do their thing.
“Movements like this are a part of what TheHUB Magazine’s healthy living section and related website (theweigh.com) is all about,” says its founder, Jackie Berg. “We need to celebrate the everyday acts of kids, who despite enormous peer pressure bring it – boldly. Find them and we rewrite our future. It’s time to show us what you’ve got. Tell us at: theweigh.com”
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