I know how your daughter feels — I struggled with my weight as a teenager, too! It’s difficult, especially when you go to school with those thin popular gorgeous young teen cheerleader types (and most schools have them).

The tae kwon do class might help, and I like your comment on my “Tips for Hiring a Personal Fitness Trainer” article. I think a personal fitness instructor might be great for certain teenagers. The personal attention and instruction might make the difference she needs.

Thanks for your comments,

Laurie

She just started taking a tae kwon do class and I think that might help. Her teacher is strict!

I don’t think weight loss supplements are good for teens — or adults, for that matter. It does depend on the reasons for being overweight, though; I think a doctor might prescribe a weight loss supplement in some cases.

But generally speaking, the best way to lose weight and body fat for teens (and adults) is to eat lots of fruits, veggies, and protein. Stay away from simple carbs (white sugar, white flour), and eat good fats like olive oil sparingly.

And, exercise!!

Laurie

“Brown fat (brown adipocyte) is present in the human body primarily in early life, the persistence of brown fat in adults is subject to discussion.

However, new evidence suggests that in adulthood we actually still have the brown fat in the body.

The brown fat, produces heat, burn fat and calories consumed in the presence of cold temperatures, which is why research in this area is of particular importance to fight against diseases related to obesity and the overweight, as it is for diabetes and other ailments.

When you hear the words “brown fat”, this does not mean that the fat under the skin is tanned by the sun, although the brown fat actually is really brown.

Its color is brown because mitochondria contain iron. The fat is not visible to the naked eye, but by analyzing PET (positron emission tomography), which represents a way for doctors and researchers as to whether the remaining brown fat in adults.

Three studies were published recently in the 9th of April 2009 issue of the medical journal New England Journal of Medicine stating that research has determined that the brown fat are still adults and can burn calories when it is activated by cold temperatures.

Dr. Aaron Cypress, lead author of one study from Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, said: “The incredible enthusiasm on this is that we have a whole new way to fight against obesity.”

Dr. Cypress and his colleagues evaluated more than 1900 patients who underwent PET analysis and their study showed that 7.5 percent of women had the brown fat in certain areas of the body at a rate of 4 mm and 3, 1 per cent of men were also the brown fat of similar size.

The researchers noted that patients who are taking or have taken beta-blockers were less likely to have brown fat.

Dr. Cypress explains that “The general public and most scientists did not know this fact, and adding to this effect:” We affirm that the brown fat is present in the body in adulthood and could be used as a treatment for obesity and diabetes. ”

Another recently published studies, was conducted by Dr. Sven Enerbäck at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden and his team. He also stressed the presence of brown fat in adults through research involving five patients.

His team discovered a large amount of brown fat on the forehead of patients and in the back of their neck, through the modern medical imaging. The team verified the presence of brown fat through genetic analysis.

After finding the presence of brown fat, they have attempted to determine the impact of it when a patient has been exposed to colder temperatures, to trigger the activity of the fat.

They set up a patient in an ice bath while he was being examined by PET at a temperature between about 17 ° for five minute intervals over a period of two hours.

The team has noticed an increased activity of brown fat, as well as the consumption of glucose by the patient.

Another study published in the Journal was conducted by Dutch researchers of the Medical Center of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands.

Their study evaluated the effects of temperature on the brown fat from 24 healthy men using PET. Participants showed no presence of brown fat while sitting in a room at 22 ° F for two hours, but when room temperature was lowered to about 17 °, 23 men showed an activity brown fat.

The leanest men had a BMI under 25, on the brown fat was more active than those who were overweight or obese.

These new research invites researchers to consider the presence of brown fat than thought previously only be present in infants or rodents. The brown fat appears to be intended to regulate body temperature, and to do that, it burns large amounts of sugar and releases energy as heat.

In the light of new facts about the brown fat, and the fact that it seems to burn calories, scientists and researchers have new reason to find ways to trigger the activity of brown fat.”