I want to find out how much I weigh, but I don’t have a scale. Where can I go?

Good question. Not every house has a scale in it, but there are places you can go to find one. Try asking your school nurse or PE teacher if they have one. You can also go to your local YMCA, community center or local grocery as well.

 

Kids make fun of me because of my weight. What can I do?

Being a kid isn’t always the easiest thing in the world. And honestly, kids can be mean sometimes. Don’t worry about what other kids say. You are you. The most important thing is that you’re healthy. Having excess weight on our bodies can sometimes be unhealthy. It’s best to talk to your parents or family members about the situation and see what they can do to help.

 

My school sends home a BMI report card with my regular report card. What is BMI?

Great question, BMI (or body-mass-index) is a number that’s calculated to help you measure your weight and what that means. For children, you also have to take your BMI and figure out your BMI-for-age percentile. We know this can sound confusing, so to help you out, click here for more information.

 

I am really into video gaming and don’t go outside much. Am I going to gain weight?

Well, this is an interesting question. Playing video games won’t make you gain weight, but sometimes when you combine this with poor food choices or lack of exercise, it can contribute to excess weight gain. Think about the games you like to play. Maybe you like to play football, basketball or baseball games. Why not take these games outside into the real world? Sure, we all know playing the latest sports game on the hottest gaming console is fun, but how about getting outside a bit too? Who knows, you might even be able to use some of those fancy gaming moves in real life!

 

My sibling (brother or sister) is really skinny and I am not. Why is this?

This is a common and good question. The simple answer is that we’re all made differently. We do inherit our genetic code or genes from our parents, but those genes are made up from our grandparents, their parents and so on. So, you can see how there’s a lot that depicts how our bodies will look and function.  If this is something that bothers you, you should talk to your parents and let them know how you feel. They can best help you figure out how to handle the situation and what to do about your concern.

 

I’ve tried to talk to my parents about my weight, but they say I am fine. I know I am not. What can I do?

This is always hard to handle. We’re raised thinking we can go to our parents with pretty much anything and here you are trying to talk to them, but feel turned down. There are a few ways to handle this. First, try approaching your family again, and tell them that you are concerned about your weight and want to talk to them. Maybe you’ve recently discussed weight in your health class. Use some of that information to open the door to the conversation. If you still don’t get anywhere, try talking to your school nurse or guidance counselor. They may be able to help too.

 

I feel like every time school starts none of my clothes fit me. Am I gaining weight?

Ah yes… summer comes to an end and it’s time to try on last year’s school clothes. First reaction, “they don’t fit!” Don’t worry it’s going to be okay. Is it possible you may have put some excess weight on during the summer? Sure, but remember, as a young adult your body is changing and growing very rapidly. It is possible that you outgrew some of your clothes and need to get new ones, but hey, that’s the best part of going back to school shopping!

 

I am on a sports team for school and they make us weigh a certain amount to play. This is really hard for me and sometimes I feel sick and worry about my weight. Is this normal?

Making weight for a sport has been around as long as sports themselves have. The demands of scholastic sports can sometimes be overwhelming. If you’re having a hard time, try talking to your coach and see what they suggest. If you’re feeling sick, make sure you tell them that. You should also talk to your parents and the pressures you feel about your weight. You need to be careful when dealing with your weight because you always want to do what is healthiest for you.

 

I am always picked last for any team sports at school. I know it’s because of my weight. What can I do?

The last person chosen for the big game, yea it’s never a good feeling. First things first, don’t feel bad. You were picked last? Okay, that means nobody knew the potential you had as a team player. Remember, the team is only as strong as its weakest link, so go out there and play your best. If your team sees that you’ve given it all you got, they’ll respect you and want you to be on their team again.

 

I hate being overweight. I’ve stopped eating completely and feel sick. Is this healthy?

First things first - don’t ever hate your body. Media’s depictions of Hollywood bodies and model faces are not realistic. Love yourself for who you are. Completely stopping eating is not healthy. In fact, when your body senses that you’ve stopped eating it actually goes into a “fat storage” mode and will do its best to NOT let you lose weight. Your body isn’t sure why you’re not feeding it, so it needs to keep what it has to stay functioning. Feeling sick is also a problem. You can actually do more harm than good by not eating. Try talking to your family about your concern with weight. Don’t be embarrassed and ask if you can visit a healthcare professional to help you with your weight concerns.

 

Do you have a question that you’d like answered? Simply email your question to info@yourweightmatters.org and we’ll answer you soon!

 

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