Adolescents

Adolescence involves numerous physical and emotional changes, and you begin to understand who you are as adults, discover new things about your body and the world of emotions, about sexuality and yourselves. Suddenly you are in a new world, in which you want to feel loved and that you belong, and instead you feel different and confused. During this period, many adolescents cope with changes in physical appearance, fluctuating body weight, increased or decreased appetite, social pressure to be thin, physically attractive and athletically fit, and a proclivity to eat an imbalanced diet unsuited to the needs of the growing adolescent body.

These changes make many youths feel distress, and they may develop low self esteem and negative body image, which leads to preoccupation with body weight, body shape and dieting, and may lead to the development of severe eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder). Whether this involves constant preoccupation with weight, radical changes in body weight, abstaining from food, excessive eating, vomiting in secret or intense sports activity, it is very important to take note of these warning signs, and to know that there is a way to help adolescents suffering from these symptoms, as well as a way to alleviate their struggle.

ISIS- The Interdisciplinary Center for Weight Management, Nutrition and Wellness offers two accompaniment and support settings for adolescents:

Activities geared towards adolescents coping with excess weight, eating disorders and low body image. These activities include the accompaniment of a dietician who will help you achieve a balanced body weight and develop proper eating habits, fitness training, whereby which you may achieve a normal weight in a controlled and healthy manner; additionally adolescents are offered the professional accompaniment of a psychologist specializing in the treatment of youths, in one-on-one meetings and group meetings, so that they will have a special place they can call their own, where they can talk about everything openly and receive the necessary support, attention and assistance.

Activities for parents of adolescents coping with obesity problems and eating disorders

It isn't easy being the parent of an adolescent. This is a very vulnerable age, where many young male and female teens are at high risk of developing eating disorders and of suffering from body-image problems and low self esteem. You as parents yearn to provide your children with a sympathetic ear and support, whereas teens tend to distance themselves from you and withdraw into their own world.

We offer a unique setting which will provide you with practical tools to support your adolescent child. In group meetings led by a psychologist and dietician we will help you understand what your child needs and how to provide him/her with what he/she requires, and how to cope as a family with nutrition related issues, weight and adolescence.