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Big Enough
Healthy Weight Gain for Teens
By Sue Marquette Poremba
Along with a healthy, high-calorie diet, another way to gain weight is with strength training. No one should attempt a strength-training regimen without guidance. That guidance could come from coaches or strength trainers through the school or sports teams or a gym. They should work out with some adult supervision nearby; finding a "lifting buddy" is ideal. Abs and back muscles can be worked on daily, but other muscles should be given 48 hours of rest between workouts.
Muscle weighs more than fat, so as a teen becomes more muscular, he or she will see weight gain on the scale – even though they may not see it in the mirror. However, boys will find they are stronger, and continued training will make them look larger. For girls, strength training will tone their bodies and give their thin frames a well-defined look.
Parents should always provide a positive attitude about their teen's body image, as well as provide an example of a healthy lifestyle. They also need to help their teen be realistic. Some kids – like my son – will struggle to gain five pounds because of their genetic make up. "We need to teach teens to accept their bodies and not be so dissatisfied," says Ayars.
My son's weight gain is slow, but with his regular workouts in the weight room and his new diet focusing on good calories, he's never been healthier. And that, he thinks, is the most important thing.
