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Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 The low-cal choices included sugar-free sodas, non-caloric lemonade and ice tea, and bottled water.
The simple strategy comes at a time when many parents of teens are frustrated trying to help their overweight children. The rate of overweight among children and teens ages 6 to 19 was 16 percent in 2002, triple the percent in 1980. That 16 percent translates to 9 million kids, according to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Sandon said small changes like the one tried in the study can be effective approaches to weight loss. "A simple change of what is available in their [the teens'] environment helped them to decrease calorie levels without really being aware of it. This shows that our environment can have a profound effect on food choices."
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Other small steps can also offer big payoffs for teens who want to lose weight -- or simply control it, Sandon said. Parents can offer a lower-calorie cereal alternative for breakfast, for instance. And they can be sure a green, leafy salad with low-fat dressing is available with lunch and dinner.
Other tips:
- Buy individually wrapped snack items because less will be consumed than if the entire package is available;
- Replace 10-oz. glasses with 8-oz. ones;
- Switch to smaller dinner plates because they tend to encourage less consumption of food.
Besides changing the "eating environment," teens can also increase their levels of activity. It can be as simple as walking the dog more.
Limiting television time is another good way to discourage sedentary behavior, Sandon said.
Ebbeling is continuing her research, which was funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Charles H. Hood Foundation. She is working on a similar, much larger study.
More information
For 10 more tips on cutting calories, visit the American Dietetic Association (www.eatright.org ).
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