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Health & Fitness

Strong4Life: Getting Pretty—But Staying Healthy—For the Prom

It's prom season and I know that teenagers want to be pretty/handsome for their prom. It's important for children to make healthy changes to their life and not try a quick fix to achieve weight-loss..

This week's guest blogger is Mark L. Wulkan, M.D., Surgeon-in-Chief, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

It’s prom season and I know that every teenager wants to be pretty/handsome for the prom. This is why countless hours are spent on everything from clothes to hair to transportation – ensuring everything is perfect.  While my children (two girls and a boy) have not yet reached prom age, I’m sure I will think they look great!  (Although, like any parent, I’m sure I’ll worry about them staying safe and using good judgment that evening.)

That said, this is the time of year we see many kids looking for a quick fix to achieve weight-loss.  As a surgeon who performs weight loss surgery on children, I find this very concerning.  Despite what our society would have you believe, there are no quick fixes. While there is nothing wrong with wanting to look your best, wanting to be healthy is even better! Unfortunately, most of the promises of quick weight loss do not address health issues and don’t bring about long-term results.

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We have been a dieting nation since the 1980’s and have only seen the rate of obesity rise to crisis levels!  At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we emphasize getting and staying healthy.

Prom season provides many natural opportunities for parents to talk with their teens about things like body image, fitness, wellness and food concerns.  Our Strong4Life movement developed “The Talk,” to help you have these types of conversations in a non-confrontational, open and loving way.

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Remember, developing bodies need healthy fuel to thrive. Help your kids look at lean proteins like baked chicken, yogurt (especially Greek), nut butters or beans and rice to then pair with fresh fruits and vegetables (which should make up at least half of their plate at each meal). Older generations might tell you that snacking isn’t healthy, but moderate meals interspersed with small, healthy snacks are truly better for a well-rounded balance. Check out these 140 calories or less(but still delicious) snack/treat ideas from our Strong4Life dietitians. And don’t forget, drinking plenty of water will keep his/her system hydrated and their skin glowing.

Prom is just one day, but poor eating habits, or yo-yo dieting can lead to a lifetime of physical, mental and emotional problems. Make sure your prom prep plan includes a steady diet of healthy eating, so your little princesses and princes will look as good on the inside as they do on the outside!

Strong4Life is a movement created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to address the childhood obesity medical crisis that is threatening nearly one million kids in Georgia. For information about Strong4Life visit our website,FacebookTwitterYouTube, and Strong4Life Blog.

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