Kelly Turner

The good thing about teenagers is that their bodies are generally mature enough that they can do any form of exercise safely, with the except of INTENSE weight lifting, which can put stress on the teen's growth plates.

The trick is to find something that the teen enjoys that will keep them active and also keep them interested. Team sports, individual sports yoga and martial arts are all fun and exciting activities that burn major calories. Some teens, however, can and do love the gym, so that may be the best place for them. Every teen is different, so try a number of different activities with them and they are bound to find one that they can fall in love with.

Teens are also very susceptible to poor body image and low self-esteem, so be careful not nit-pick their body and stress weight loss. Instead, focus on the benefits of exercise and being healthy to build up their self esteem instead of tearing it down.