Obesity in children is reaching epidemic proportions, with 15 to 30 percent of children in America now overweight.

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Searching the web for diet info? Here are the top ten diets being searched on Google.

If you are one of the millions of Americans who have been on and off diets for years, you have probably learned that headlines such as this are merely lures trying to tempt you to buy a diet ‘miracle' pill or other magical cure for overweight. It's hard to resist fad diets and gimmicks if you have suffered through years of frustration with your weight, especially when it seems as if everyone else is doing great on the new “diet miracle plan.” Often the only consolation comes when those people gain their weight back, as do the vast majority of people who follow fad diets.

The reason these types of diet plans or gimmicks are categorized under the umbrella of “fad diets” is because like fads, they are in today, out tomorrow. As soon as the vast majority of people catch onto the fact that these are merely tricks to get some instant results, and the fact that these instant results do not result in long-term weight loss, the diets fall out of favor. Sometimes they re-emerge with variations years later with a new twist on the old you-can-lose-weight-without-effort marketing ploy.

The truth about weight loss and long-term weight maintenance is that there is no glamorous solution or quick fix: you must decrease calories, especially those that come from fat and sugar, and you must increase physical activity.

Fad diets generally offer a way to diet that supposedly prevents any “suffering.” This might entail suppression of the appetite through herbal supplements or other diet pills; special eating plans that cut out or decrease dramatically one of the major food groups; special diet foods that have supposed miracle properties (e.g., cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet); special wraps or other treatments that “melt fat away…” Most people who have yo-yo dieted over the years know about all the variations and twists on the miracle lose-fat-without-effort types of fad diets.

Many of these fad diets create risk factors that can be especially worrisome if your health is already compromised by long-term obesity or weight issues. Diet pills can cause mood swings, racing heart, and high blood pressure. Herbal does not mean safe, as we know from the news stories about misuse of the herb ma huang and the deaths that results (also known as ephedra).

A well-balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables combined with consistent daily exercise is still the healthiest and most effective way to achieve weight loss with long-term maintenance. Many people find that by participating in a structured program, they are better able to monitor their progress and then the maintenance of weight loss. The healthiest programs offer a wide variety of foods and emphasize foods “close to nature”—such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.

But I want to lose weight fast! To avoid frustration that can lead to binge eating or complete abandonment of a healthy diet and exercise plan, set reasonable expectations. You should strive to lose around one or two pounds a week. The chances of maintaining weight loss done slowly and steadily are infinitely greater than the chances of maintaining rapid weight loss on a crash diet.

Keep a record of what you eat and how much you exercise. It can be very rewarding to look back at your exercise when you first began and a 20 minute walk was a big deal compared with your stamina after a few months when 45 minutes on the elliptical machine and 20 minute of weight lifting make you f eel like a million dollars!

It's also important to educate yourself about nutrition. As a person who struggles with weight, you can't afford to “guess” just how much fat and how many calories a food has. Don't assume the taco you buy at the fast food store has the same calories as the taco you make at home. Don't assume that low fat means low calorie. There are many misconceptions about “diet foods” that can lead to weight “creep,” so it's important to know exactly what you are putting into your body. It is a good idea to view foods as fuel, and figure out what fuel you need for that day. Are you getting the right balance of protein and carbohydrates? Do your food choices give you a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals?

In terms of physical activity, strive to do something every day. You don't have to run a race. Thirty minutes of moderately brisk walking every day will be a great start. You will find after a few weeks that you feel a drive to push yourself more because the benefits of exercise impact your daily life so dramatically. You may being to notice that if you skip a couple of days your mood changes; you may even feel a little “down.” Exercise produces endorphins, chemicals that enable us to have an overall feeling of well being, and even elation (many new exercisers report that they are surprised by how up their mood is after they finish a brisk walk. They marvel that they never knew how GOOD it feels to exercise!).

We all know the feeling when you look back at a high school photo. You look at your hair style and dated outfit and say, "What was I thinking?!" This is how, on that day when you realize you are now healthily maintaining your weight, you can look back at all those crazy fad diets you once thought would work!

How Does My Child Learn Eating Habits ?

Parents play a big role in shaping children's eating habits. When parents eat a variety of foods that are low in fat and sugar and high in fiber, children learn to like these foods as well.

Blogging Away the Pounds

Think of it as a confessional for the overweight - weight loss blogs are on the rise and they can be a great way to find out what works and doesn't work for other people. The weight loss blog by teens attending the first weight loss boarding school gives real insights into the behavioral, psychological, and physical aspects of losing weight as a teen.