From curfews to cliques, the teen years are fraught with power struggles. But for the millions of overweight and obese teens in America today, the battle for a better weight can follow them well into adulthood, often with disastrous consequences. In addition to medical risks like heart disease and diabetes, teens with weight problems are more likely to be depressed and to have low self-esteem and poor grades.

Mom and Dad’s encouragement can mean the difference between gaining an edge on obesity and losing the motivation to do so. How can you get your teen on track if he or she is in denial or unmotivated? Here are a few Dos and Donts:

DO:

• Talk to him like a friend, not a disciplinarian.
• Put your teen in charge of how, and when, he wants to lose.
• Get rid of the junk food and be sure to stock up on healthy options.
• Create a healthy environment for the whole family
• Model healthy eating and exercise. Buy a family gym membership or find a sport you can enjoy as a family.

DON’T:

• Tell him his weight is okay. That minimizes the problem.
• Criticize or try to coerce your teen into losing weight.
• Be a food cop: comments like “You’ve had enough,” will backfire.
• Single out the overweight teen in your household.