I have been very successful (even posted as a success story ) with Jenny Craig and have kept 70lbs off for the last 4 years. Occasionally, when I feel myself slip I go back on the program for a few weeks to get refocused and back on track. My 11 year old son is 5' tall and weighs 130lbs. He has asked me repeatedly if he can follow the Jenny Craig plan too. We have tried Weight Watchers, increasing exercise and a few other things with no success. I know he sees that I'm successful and rigid following the plan and wants to do the same. Is Jenny Craig safe for him?

Thanks,
Shannon

techinically ur son needs to be 13 before he can join the adolesent program....... but if u buy the food for him and make sure hes eating well over 1500 calories im sure he'd be fine. double check with a doctor first.

no no no do not just buy the food for your son PLEASE .. he needs to be seen first. just wait till your son is 13, and until then get him excercising, on a healthy diet and lots of water, fruits and veggies. and if there is STILL a problem bring him in at 13. plz dont listen to the other guy... i work at jenny as a program director. it could be harmful to your son to be on just 1500 calories at that, or be harmful to be on the food for another reason we dont know about. bottom line, just wait till someone can see him... dont take peoples advice over the internet....for your sons safety.

I for sure agree with you Cassie. For the safety of your son and for the integrity of the JC program buying him food would not only be un-safe but would teach your son that it is okay to break rules. Another thing I would like to mention is Jenny Craig is not just about the food. It's about teaching you how to change your eating, activity and weight loss mindsets. So by buying just the food you are preventing a consultant from being able to teach him all that he should know. I would recommend seeing a nutritionist or wait until he is 13 to join the program!!

Having been an overweight child, I can really feel for your son. I would probably side with the consensus to not just buy the JC food for your child without consultations.

However, I am wary about just waiting until he is 13 to start getting healthier. I was doing some digging and came across a couple of things.

One is a website, http://www.drsearslean.com/, and the thing I liked about Dr Sears site was that it is more about getting healthy and fit, not just losing weight.

Another suggestion I found was a video, apparently Leslie Sansone does a walking video for children as well.

Good luck to you and your son.

I don't think children should ever be put on a diet. But you should limit his access to fast food and junk food, and limit his television watching and video game playing.

Take time to teach him new habits and a new lifestyle. Let him snack on fruits and vegetables instead of chips or cookies. If he doesn't like vegetables, try helping him plant a garden, or teach him to cook; kids are more likely to try new foods if they've grown it or cooked it themselves. Find healthier ways to prepare versions of kid-friendly food like pizza, chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers.

Add new activity to his life. Let him play outside, ride a bike, run around the park, play softball, join the family for hikes, etc.

He won't drop a lot of weight overnight if he does these things, but he will slim down gradually and learn habits that will keep him from having to join JC when he's 40. And he won't have the stigma of being the fat kid on a diet, depriving himself of the things "normal" kids get.