Teens with weight problems often grow into adults with weight problems. A study of young adults in Washington State examined their childhood and parental height and weight records. Results showed that obese teens have more than a 50-percent chance of remaining obese into adulthood, and those odds increase to as much as 80 percent if a parent is also obese. That does not mean that your teen is destined to remain overweight. Start working with your family to control weight. Break unhealthy habits now, and your child can start on the path to fitness while she is still at home and surrounded by supportive family.

College-Bound

If your teen will be headed off to college soon or is looking at her options, it's a good idea to plan to get a support system in place to help her continue her fitness routine once she's there. At college, teens may be completely without parental supervision for the first time in their lives, and you want her to be prepared for the challenges she'll face. When you visit schools, find out what the food service is like and what meal plan options are available. Investigate the fitness facilities, and equip her to face and conquer the famed “freshman fifteen.”

Although clinical studies have disagreed on whether the college freshman fifteen-pound weight gain is a real phenomenon, most are in agreement that there are some real fitness pitfalls awaiting new college students. These include the following:

• Study load. College means lots of time spent sitting and hitting the books. Encourage your child to break it up a bit with occasional walks and exercise intermissions — it will benefit her mind as well as her body.

• Coin-operated calories. From the student union to the dorms, vending machines are everywhere and tempting to time-starved students. Invest in a mini-fridge and microwave for your teen's dorm room so she can stock up on alternatives to the usual vending machine fare.

• Seconds, thirds, and fourths. Food service programs that offer all-you-can-eat dining add temptation. Make sure your teen is educated about portion control and wise food choices before she heads off to school.

• Parties. Alcohol can pack on the pounds. Talk to your child about drinking responsibly, for her health as well as for her safety.

Health and Disease Risks

The sooner you begin working with your teen and your family to get healthy, the sooner he cuts his risk for adult health problems like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol levels, and hypertension (high blood pressure). If he already has some of these problems, along with any other common ailments of obese teens, such as obstructive sleep apnea and asthma, dropping pounds will not only relieve symptoms and make him feel more energetic, it may also save his life.