Weight Loss Surgery for TEENs is Latest Trend

Researchers have found that most TEENs are only successful in losing about 22 pounds even with medication. A growing number of TEENs are much more obese than that.

The problems associated with this amount of obesity in TEENs include diabetes, heart disease and sleep apnea. The quality of life for these TEENs has been found to be about the same as those kids suffering from cancer.

Obviously, the social life of these kids is also much affected by being overweight in a society that looks on beauty as something so much to be desired.

Lap band surgery for TEENs has become the treatment of choice in those whom medication will not product the required weight loss. Weight loss surgery is also called bariatric surgery. This type of weight loss surgery can normally be done with a laparoscope. This involves three - sometimes four - small incisions in the abdomen. A band is then placed around the top part of the stomach making a small pouch.

When the TEEN eats, he will only be able to eat a small amount before feeling full. It will be much easier to control the appetite in that way. This type of surgery is very safe. And the weight comes off. In fact, the usual weight loss is about sixty five pounds.

The cost of this surgery is about $30,000, but more and more insurance companies are covering the procedure. Not only is it helpful for those suffering from obesity as a TEEN, but it actually saves the insurance company money in the long run.

At present, this surgery is still the treatment of last resort. The first step would be dieting. This might be accompanied by a support group, counseling or even a dieting camp. The second step would be medication. The final result would be weight loss surgery for the TEENs.

This treatment is not only becoming a common weight loss surgery for TEENs in the United States, but has recently become more common in countries such as Australia.

According to Monash University's Centre for Obesity Research and Education 7 percent of Australian youths are obese and 20 percent are overweight.

One University student, Bevan Roberts weighed 120 Kg (about 264 lbs) before surgery. After lap band surgery, she has lost 23 Kg (about 50 lbs). While on her way to losing more, she says that her mental status has improved tremendously.

CORE operated on 81 obese people under the age of 24 last year, up from 34 in 2001. They are recruiting more for this year.

Laparoscopic band surgery for TEENs has become increasingly the surgical treatment of choice. However, many surgeons are still recommending gastric bypass surgery instead.

In this treatment, the small pouch at the top of the stomach is accompanied by an alteration in the connection of the small bowel to the top of the stomach instead of the bottom of the stomach. In this way, the food bypasses the bottom of the stomach.

This type of surgery, while more invasive has a longer track record. Therefore, the risks and benefits are much more familiar.

TEENage Acne – Helping to Cope with Skin Acne

TEENagers with acne may feel besieged by the sudden changes in their appearance. Puberty and acne have been known to go hand in hand. As if it’s not already hard enough for your child to see changes in their body, now they’ve been overwhelmed with acne! Unfortunately, TEENage acne can severely damage your TEENager’s self-esteem.

Male TEENagers may feel insecure about their appearance, causing them to withdraw from social activities with the opposite sex. Females, on the other hand may hind behind make-up products such as foundation or concealer. These methods of “coverage” usually aggravate acne and cause further blemishes.

While acne is generalized as a “part of growing up,” there are many factors which contribute to TEEN acne. For instance, a diet which consists of soda, junk food, and greasy foods will invite acne. By all means, your TEENager should have fun and snack every now and then. But over-indulgence of such treats is the primary cause of severe acne in TEENagers.

Your TEENage daughter may have a very hard time dealing with acne. After all, this is a generation that’s flooded in advertisements that define beauty. Very rarely do you see a TEENage model, actress, or singer that shows obvious signs of facial acne. Nevertheless, these famous TEENagers are not flawless by any means. With the right amount of lighting and airbrushing, anyone can appear flawless! It’s essential that you remind your TEENager of this.

It’s important to inform TEENagers that they are still attractive and look wonderful the way they are. By all means, boost the esteem! Never pick at your TEENagers appearance, as it will only hurt their self-esteem. If a TEENager feels ridiculed and ashamed, they will lash out--or worse withdraw from friends and family. This can lead to depression, which may or may not be temporary.

If your TEENager has been facing stress they may become affected by acne. An increase in stress will promote acne amongst people of all ages. Your TEENagers body will react to stress by releasing more oils throughout the skin. Which increases the likelihood of receiving acne. In order to keep blemishes at bay, your TEENager should wash their face regularly.

Nevertheless, excessive washing with soaps and/or other medicated acne products may dry out the skin. This will result in further skin problems. Your TEENager should also drink plenty of water to flush impurities from the body. This too, will reduce the symptoms of TEENage acne.

Helping Your TEENs Quit Smoking

Many people would easily dismiss smoking as a normal, difficult to avoid/control and even inescapable part of TEENage life, but it doesn’t mean that we should ignore it. Studies show that the earlier a young person begins to smoke, the more likely he will become an adult smoker and the longer he is to stay hooked. Adolescent tobacco users are more prone to using alcohol and illegal drugs than are non-users. On top of all that are the glaring health hazards of smoking. As caring parents, helping our children quit smoking is still the best thing to do.

Fortunately, parents like us aren’t absolutely without help. Most communities have professionals, agencies and organizations that are committed to running useful campaigns against smoking. Schools and local governments are usually cooperative at initiating programs that educate students on the perils of smoking. Churches, pastoral counselors and social workers can likewise be called on to provide some help. If we’re feeling up to it, we can also go as far as asking the government (Congress) to pass laws that further restrict the tobacco industry (by imposing even higher taxes on it and enforcing prohibition of minors’ purchasing and use of tobacco products). These are some of the things we can bring into play to combat the pervasive influence of advertising and peer pressure on adolescent smoking.

For more practical tips on handling your predicament, consider the following:

1. Try to avoid using strong-arm tactics. Nagging, begging, ridiculing, threatening and giving condescending lectures, as you may have probably noticed, rarely meet with success, and usually become further cause for your child to want to smoke more.

2. Find out why your TEEN is smoking. Often, smoking is only the tip of an iceberg—a symptom of a deeper problem, such as the need for attention, the need for belongingness or acceptance by a peer group, unhealthy self-esteem, need for independence, etc. Being a TEENager alone can be quite a strain! Nurture a healthy and consistent communication line with him to help him address his concerns. If unequivocally necessary (i.e., if his inability to cope with his issues reaches the extent that he is failing to function normally), ask for a professional’s help.

3. Be compassionate. Try to understand that quitting smoking isn’t a cinch; some people find it harder to achieve than others. Show your interest in your child’s situation in a non-intimidating manner. Communicate your concern lovingly to him and involve him in a mother-child or family effort to address his problem. Let him make suggestions—this will show him how much you value his contributions to solving the problem. Negotiate/work out ways with him to explore and effectively execute the changes that must be made to stop his destructive habit.

4. Most smokers, specially beginners, believe they can easily unhook themselves from the smoking habit whenever they want, yet studies reveal many of them never do. You can share to him these and a myriad other facts why smoking is nasty (the internet can help you find many of these informations), again using a non-intimidating, non-haughty tone. If your child knows someone who has successfully quit smoking, invite that person to talk to your child so that the latter can hear firsthand from one who has actually been through the experience of quitting. Support groups with which he can relate to can also help.

5. Parents who are smokers should try to quit. If they have already quit, they must speak to their child about their own experience in a way that the latter can connect to them.

6. Be supportive all the way, especially when your child decides to quit. Quitting smoking entails a host of undesirable but temporary effects called withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, depression, headaches and difficulty sleeping, which are all signs that his body is adjusting and recovering its healthy equilibrium. This withdrawal period is when parents critically need all the courage, patience and ingenuity they can muster at providing the most peaceful and supportive atmosphere for their child throughout his most difficult days.

Walk with him through this stage by:

a. using prayer consistently and reading the Bible (Though this is a cliché for many, it actually works! Praying together with your child may do wonders, too.);

b. pushing him to delay satisfying his craving—the craving will go away eventually;

c. engaging him in a variety of activities that will keep his mind off his craving;

d. encouraging him more at every progress point until he finally overcomes the habit;

e. surrounding him with things and people who can support his resolve to quit;

f. helping him avoid stressful situations that could lead him to a relapse.

When a relapse occurs, stay positive and reassuring. Consider each failure as a learning experience for both of you that you could use to make the next attempt more successful.

7. Lastly, reward your TEEN when he finally quits. Plan something special for him, preferably something that your family can do together with him.

You can’t make a person quit smoking without that person’s conscious and willful conviction as well as committed cooperation to quit. But no parent should be quick to give up on guiding their children out of harm’s way. When your child chooses to disobey despite your reminders and best efforts, don’t blame yourself. Rely above all, on God.

DEPRESSION in TEENagers and Children

A while ago I did a blog about Adult depression. While doing the research on Adult depression, I learned quite a bit of information about depression in general, in addition to what I already knew because I suffer from this condition myself. What I didn't know, however, is just how prevelant this condition is in the population at large, and in children and TEENs in specific. One source said that depression is close to the top psychological condition in the western world (more about what this means in a later blog; it'll take a whold blog to talk about what this means).

This article will cover the following: TEENager and children depression statistics; TEENager and children - specific depression symptoms (for "general" symptoms, check out the Adult blog), and, what you, as the parent and/or gaurdian, can do if you recognize the symptoms in one of yours. (Remember, the following information comes from many Internet sources.)

TEENAGER AND CHILDREN DEPRESSION STATISTICS

As many as 8.3% of TEENagers in the U.S. suffer from depression. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in TEENagers.

As many as one in every 33 children and approximately one in 8 adolescents may have depression. (Center for Mental Health Services, 1996; these data have increased over the past 9 years).

Treatment of major depression is as effective for children as it is for adults. (Dr. Graham Emslie, American Medical Association, Archives of General Psychiatry, November 15, 1997).

Twenty years ago depression in children was almost unknown. Now the fastest rate of increase in depression is among young people. (I don't know about you, but this statistic scares me the most!)

The statistics on TEEN depression are sobering. Studies indicate that one in five (1 in 5) children have some sort of mental, behavioral, or emotional problem, and that one in ten (1 in 10) may have a serious emotional problem.

What is even more chilling is that of all these children and TEENs struggling with emotional and behavioral problems, a mere 30% receive any sort of intervention or treatment. The other 70% simply struggle through the pain of mental illness or emotional turmoil, doing their best to make it to adulthood. Many theorize that this is why the suicide rate in TEENs is so high. Suicide is the third (3rd) leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 24. Even more troubling, it is the sixth (6th) leading cause of death among children ages 5-14.

The consequences of untreated depression can be:

increased incidence of depression in adulthood;
involvement in the criminal justice system;
or in some cases, suicide.

WHAT ARE THE TEEN/CHILDREN DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS?

As we see above, treatment (i.e., counseling, therapy, or even medical intervention, if needed) for depression is as effective for TEENs/children as it is for Adults. Let me state that again; research from a variety of sources indicates that appropriate treatment for depression in a TEEN and/or a child is as effective as it is for Adults. So, what, as a parent or gurdian, should we look for? What are the symptoms of real depression, and not just a "bad mood"?

"Real Depression" - the type that needs immediate and appropriate attention - in TEENagers and in children is defined as: when the feelings of depression persist and interfere with the TEEN's/child's ability to function in his/her normal daily activities. This doesn't mean that one should ignore a TEEN's/child's bad mood if it lasts for a few days or a few weeks. What it does mean is that, at a minimum, you, the parent/guardian must know enough about your TEEN's/child's normal daily activities so that you can know when there are changes. OK, what covers "normal daily activities" for a TEEN/child? (And, in this, we are sticking to American generic TEENs/children, because that's what I am most famaliar with. If anyone can add to this list, please do so.)

As you read through this list, remember that your TEEN/child has to have "a siginficant" number of these symptoms; they have to be ongoing, out of character; and impair the TEEN's/child's normal daily activities (sound familiar?)

1) Snapping at people for no apparent reason - being irritable at everyone.

2) Physically or verbally aggressive at everyone.

3) Abandoning favorite hobbies or sports or other routine, daily activities.

4) Increased passive TV watching (where the TEEN/child has that "thousand yard stare" and is not interacting with the programs).

5) Increased risk-taking; e.g., dangerous driving; climbing too high in a tree and jumping, breaking something; other repeated unusually dangerous activities.

6) Misuse of drugs and alcohol. Particularly TEENs, who use drugs and alcohol to "escape". (1)

7) Changes in school behaviors (including training courses and work settings) for TEENs; changes in interpersonal behaviors and activities in a pre-school setting (i.e., used to like to color and play with clay; now just sits in a corner, holding a stuffed toy and sucking a thumb).

8) Frequent absences from school; poorer grades than formerly attained; increase in skipping classes; etc. For a child, reversion in activities (i.e., used to color within the lines, now just scribbling on paper; intentionally breaking things, etc.)

9) Complains of being bored (TEEN); a child whose attention waivers when it didn't before. A child who, during a group reading, who used to sit and listen, now gets up and wanders around.

10) Becomes disruptive in class (both TEENs and children).

11) Finds it harder to stay on task. Loses concentration easily; is mentally confused. Finds decisions difficult to make. In a child this might look like the following: unable to match blocks by color when s/he could before; unable to choose between playing ball and jumping rope when the child ALWAYS choose playing ball before. You can think of your own examples, I'm sure.

12) Cannot remember commitments - doesn't keep appointments (TEEN). As a child, forgets to bring papers home when s/he ALWAYS used to do so; forgets home address/telephone number when s/he has known them for months/years; etc.

13) Has difficulty staying still or conversely, is lethargic (sluggish). This would apply to both a TEEN and a child. You can picture, in your mind, the TEEN or child in constant motion; twitching, shaking a foot, or both feet; handling things; etc. OR, the TEEN or child who sits or lays with that thousand yard stare again. AND, again, this is unusual behavior for your TEEN or child.

14) Changes in relationships with family and friends. Usually, this change manifests itself in hostility, or in passivity. Arguing when s/he didn't before; or, using the "whatever" answer, when s/he used to talk to you. (Again, don't single this one symptom out; it must be one of many symptoms that your TEEN or child has.)

15) Stops going out with friends; shows no interest in group outings.

16) Increase or decrease in sexual activity (hopefully, an OLDER TEEN).

17) May start associating with a different peer group (that "bad influence" group as a TEEN; the "rowdy" kids as a child).

18) Loses interest in activities which once were fun.

19) More conflicts with parents and siblings than usual.

20) Changes in eating and sleeping habits.

21) Expresses inappropriate guilt, feelings of not being good enough, worthlessness, failure. (I can see this in a TEEN; not sure how this would look in a child. If you can, please let us know.)

22) Expresses hopelessness and having nothing to look forward to.

23) Speaks in a monotonous or monosyllabic manner.

24) Has a preoccupation with self; is withdrawn.

25) Cries easily, looks sad, feels alone or isolated.

26) Has fears about having to be perfect.

27) Fearful of doing something bad. This, in a child, could manifest itself as bedwetting after YEARS of not bedwetting; fear of darkness or "things that go bump in the night" after YEARS of no fear, etc.

28) Incidents of self-injury. Ideas of killing self. (I have no idea of how this would look for a child, and hope never to have such an idea!)

WHAT A PARENT/GUARDIAN CAN DO

The two most important things a parent can do for your child/TEEN is to first, KNOW YOUR TEEN/CHILD'S ROUTINE, AND NORMAL DAILY ACTIVITIES so that you can identify any changes; and, LISTEN:

1) listen when your children talk;

2) listen to their music;

3) spend more time with them and be involved in their activities;

4) take them to movies and concerts, and discuss them afterward;

5) know their friends, and listen to them, as well;

6) do not lecture or offer unsolicited advice, or ultimatums; and,

7) do not try to talk them out of their feelings; instead, ask them if they can describe their feelings.

It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, learn the above symptoms and know your TEEN/child. Here are some more things that you, the parent or guardian can do.

8) If a child, go to their day care periodically, and lern their routine; ask the teachers to alert you if their routine changes.

9) If a TEEN, go to ALL of your TEEN's teacher conferences to learn the patterns of the normal school day, and ask to be alerted immediately to changes.

10) For both TEENs and children, know their friends; see if your home can become the "gathering place"; get to know the parents of your child's or TEEN's friends and agree to let each other know if you see any changes in behavior.

11) In all cases, keep a diary of any changes that you see, so that you will be able to discuss the situation with great clarity and specificity with professionals, should the need arise.

12) Respond with love, kindness, and support if you think that your child/TEEN is experiencing problems that can lead to depression.

13) Let your child or TEEN know that you are there, whenever she or he needs you, and do so often and in age-specific (as Dr. Phil would say) ways.

14) Keep trying, but gently, if your TEEN shuts you out (depressed TEENagers do not want to feel patronized or crowded).

15) Do not criticize or pass judgment, once the child or TEEN begins to talk (the important thing is that he or she is talking and communicating feelings). REMEMBER, NEVER CRITICIZE FEELINGS; everyone has the right to their feelings, even if you think that they are "wrong". Let them be voiced; if inapproptiate, seek professional assistance.

16) Encourage activity and praise efforts.

17) Seek help from a doctor or mental health professional, if the TEEN's or child's depressed feeling doesn't pass with time (be prepared to list behaviors, note how long and how often they have been occurring, and how severe they seem - hence, the diary mentioned above).

18) Do not wait and hope that symptoms will go away on their own. Better to seek assistance and be told that your TEEN/child is fine than to let your TEEN/child become one of the 70% who never receive help.

19) When depression is severe – if TEENs or children are thinking about hurting themselves or about suicide – seek professional help as soon as possible.

20) Parents of depressed adolescents may themselves need support. Seek out groups of parents who have experience with TEEN depression

Footnote (1): What some of my friends and I did with alcohol when we had TEENagers; we kept a "mark" (usually hidden so the TEENs couldn't see it on the bottle) that changed each time we used the bottle. In this way, we could know immediately if the TEENs were drinking, and could deal with the situation.

Alternative Acne Treatments - A Brief Users Guide for Parents, TEENs and the Rest of Us

Every day numerous acne suffers turn to alternative methods to treat their acne. The two main reasons for the growing popularity of such treatments are; people looking for medication with less harmful side effects then tradition acne treatments. Secondly are the people who have been unsuccessful with the various over the counter and prescription options. Generally alternative treatments are not regulated by the FDA and hence you will not receive much guidance from medical doctors on their use. Word of month and the alternative medical community is the main source of information on such options.

For TEENage girls and women herbs that balance hormone levels such as chaste berry, black cohosh, dong quai, evening primrose, wild yam, and red clover are quite commonly tried. Herbalists believe that these herbs balance the female sex hormone estrogen and will counterbalance the hormone androgen. Since androgen is believed to trigger excess sebrum production, which can cause hair follicles to clog and acne to form, acne could be prevented or reduced.

Herbs that are thought to help reduce inflammation and infection can be used for both male and female acne suffers. Echinacea, licorice, dandelion root, and burdock are all thought to contain properties that help with the above by killing bacteria. The herbs salvia and red peony are also used sometimes to help acne suffers improve their skins ability to heal.

Vitamin B5 also known as pantothenic acid is a commonly used vitamin to treat acne. It become widely popular after Dr. Leung a Hong Kong acne expert published a paper on its effectiveness. His paper was based on the theory that acne sufferers are deficient in vitamin B. The result is excess sebum production, the root cause of clogged hair follicles leading to acne. Dr Leung also tested his theory through a clinical trial where 100 acne suffers were given 10g of B5 daily, after six months Dr. Leung’s test group had a ninety percent success rate.

Topical treatments such as tea tree oil and seaweed, which are both believed to have powerful antibacterial properties are also widely regarded as being effective on acne inflammations. Tea tree oil comes from the ti tree in Australia and seaweed from the oceans.

A common belief is that controlling stress reduces the severity of acne. So anything you can do to alleviate stress will help. Many acne suffers turn to exercise for stress relief, yoga being very popular. Aromatherapy can also be used in stress relief, along with acupuncture, and meditation.

While the predominate reason many people turn to alternative acne treatments is to reduce the harmful side effects of tradition medicines the reverse may actually be true. Caution should be used before trying any alternative treatments. They may have adverse side effects not common known due to the lack of regulations on most alternative treatments.