Child Obesity

Helping families create healthy change

September 11, 2025
An overweight boy with a handful of french fries

Childhood obesity continues to be one of the most pressing health concerns for families today. It rarely happens overnight. Instead, it builds over years of daily habits — many of which start in the home.

 

How It Starts

Children are often introduced early to fast food, sugary snacks, and processed meals. Donuts, cookies, chips, and sweetened drinks become “normal” choices. Combine that with more screen time and less activity, and kids begin consuming far more calories than they burn.

 

For some children, sports or athletics may not be a natural interest. Without an outlet for movement, food choices and inactivity can carry forward into the teenage years, creating patterns that are difficult to reverse.

 

Supporting Teens Toward Healthier Habits

The good news? Change is possible — and it doesn’t have to happen all at once.

  • Start Small with Movement: Encourage just 30 minutes of activity twice a week to begin. Walking, biking, or even dancing at home can build confidence and consistency.
  • Look at the Food Together: Review a few days’ worth of meals and snacks. Help your teen see how many calories are in what they’re eating. Awareness is the first step.
  • Make It a Family Effort: Children thrive when the family models healthy habits. Cooking together, trying new recipes, or doing weekend walks as a group can turn lifestyle changes into shared experiences.
 

A Balanced Approach

This journey isn’t about “all or nothing.” Just as weight gain doesn’t happen overnight, weight loss and healthier living take time. What matters most is consistency. Small steps, practiced daily, add up to meaningful results that last.

Encourage your child to be brave, to move forward, and to keep trying. Motivation builds through action, not perfection.

Popular Teen Food Choices in 2025

It’s no secret that teens gravitate toward quick and tasty meals. Here are five of the most common foods we see today — and why awareness matters:

  1. Chicken sandwiches (often fried, with sauces) – Can top 700+ calories with fries and soda.
  2. Pizza slices – A single large slice can run 300–400 calories, and most teens eat two or three.
  3. Energy drinks – Pack sugar and caffeine, often exceeding recommended daily sugar in one can.
  4. Fast-food burritos or bowls – Depending on toppings, these can exceed 1,000 calories in one meal.
  5. Sweet coffee drinks – A flavored latte or frappuccino-style drink can add 250–400 calories, mostly sugar.
 

By breaking down what’s in these choices, teens can see the impact food has on energy, performance, and how they feel day to day.

 

The AWE Way

At Abeles Wellness Experience, we believe change comes from encouragement, education, and consistency. Families don’t need a perfect plan — they need a practical one. With small shifts in food and movement, kids and teens can build healthier habits that last a lifetime.

Small changes yield BIG results and it starts with one step.

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