Underweight teens: What to do

You may be concerned if your teen seems skinny in comparison to his or her friends, but it's important to realize that for many children, being underweight or overweight is a temporary condition. Girls have a height spurt usually starting around age 10 that peaks at 12 years. For boys, it usually begins around 12 years and peaks at 14. Weight spurts generally come after height spurts.

If you're worried that your teen is underweight, consult your physician. If your physician assures you that the thinness is not a health concern, you can support your teen in the following ways:

First, encourage frequent small meals of healthy, high energy foods, such as milkshakes.

Second, try to remind your teen to eat - without nagging. It's easy for teens to become so involved in what they're doing that they forget to eat.

Third, try not to bribe or force your teen to eat Ð this usually just leads to more problems.

And finally, find out what your teen likes to eat and have it available.

If the underweight condition continues, consult your physician again or obtain a second opinion. You may also speak to a counselor on this phone line.

To learn more about parenting and the development of children from birth to age 5, visit www.investinkids.ca

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