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Teen Fitness Concerns
In recent months in the United States, there has been a greatly enhanced awareness of juvenile obesity through the release of medical studies and media attention. Other fitness concerns are also becoming obvious with respect to our teen population. Unfortunately, our society is very much a reactive one that only places importance on issues after they become serious and brought to light by news headlines. Now that America is in a react mode to this very serious problem, many people are turning to the fitness professional for quick solutions.
Personal trainers have a tremendous responsibility to those that seek their expert guidance and training, especially when it pertains to the youth. Overall fitness is vital in aiding the adolescent in proper physical and emotional development. We must realize that the typical teen is unconsciously developing habits that will likely stay with them throughout their adult life. If they can learn to discipline themselves now, with regard to proper nutrition and physical fitness, they will set themselves up for a much more healthy and productive life.
Trainers are further challenged as fitness professionals by the paradox of our society that tells the individual to find the easiest, most convenient, least energy expending means to do everything while always appearing thin, tan, and sexy. Consequently, our youth are seeking drive-thru fast-food convenience for “basic nutrition” while struggling with the negative self-image that comes when they become overweight. This leads to reliance on “fad diets” and to an alarming number of cases of teen eating disorders and other emotional issues.
So what do we do? I believe the answer is simply that trainers must remain diligent in educating the public. National awareness of the problem has been achieved, now it is up to the fitness and health professionals to spread the word of the solution. Good nutrition and physical fitness may never become as convenient as teens would like, but it can become easy and self-emphasized if we can adjust the mindset.
Phil Kaplan discusses adjusting mindsets of prospective clients in his article, Fighting Fad Diets; The Insanity of the Information Battle, published in the July 2004 issue of the Personal Fitness Professional. Although he specifically directs his advice with regard to people who have succumbed to fad diets, I believe his comments are valid when dealing with anyone with a need for a fitness mindset adjustment. Personal trainers must first establish themselves as credible without being harshly critical of the person’s past fitness and nutrition decisions. Once they have accomplished that, they then must guide the prospective client to an epiphany so that they can say, “Okay, that makes sense, now I’m ready to improve my overall fitness.”
Of course, we are not going to change young America’s collective fitness level overnight, but if we focus on our own spheres of influence we can make a difference one teen at a time. Fitness professionals must remain vigilant to proven techniques, embracing only sensible new methods, while carefully counterbalancing the mass-marketed ideas that cause more harm than good for our youth. A healthy and fit teen is much more likely to become a healthy and fit adult than an uneducated and unmotivated chronically overweight one. Through education of proper methods and the instilling of good habits, today’s teens can become a healthier adult generation of tomorrow.
Kevin Laczko, Certified Personal Trainer
Revised: January 18, 2008 |
