This was the conclusion of research conducted at the University of Bath, UK. While the media leads us to believe that teenage obesity levels are rising due to laziness, a love affair with computer games, and appalling eating habits, it seems the reality is somewhat different. A large majority of adolescent girls see improving their health and fitness as a priority.

So what’s stopping them from being fitter? 49% of girls do not feel comfortable exercising in front of other people, especially boys. In addition to this, the teenagers I have spoken to do not enjoy traditional physical education activities such as soccer, hockey and netball. In fact, many teens simply don’t enjoy exercise with a competitive element, preferring more graceful exercises like yoga or dance.

The study, conducted by the Nestlé Social Research Programme, also found that only 45% of adolescents eat the recommended amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables every day and only 56% check the levels of sugar and fat in food what do they eat. He concluded that “young people have a very patchy understanding of how to control their eating.”

The reality is that an overweight adolescent is likely to become an obese adult who is at risk for obesity-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A teen’s level of physical activity has a direct influence on her weight, and most teens reduce their rate of physical activity once they reach adolescence. Good exercise and nutrition are essential for long-term good health.

It seems that instead of criticizing teens for not exercising and making poor dietary choices, there is a lot of room to offer activity sessions they will enjoy and give them the tools to make healthy eating a reality. It seems unfair to place the task solely on the shoulders of teenagers. Adult intervention is required. Recently, we’ve seen the rise of Zumba, cheerleading, street dancing, and boot camp-style exercise classes, all of which have broad appeal to image-conscious teens.

In my local area, I have worked closely with youth clubs and Duke of Edinburgh award coordinators to offer boot camp style exercise classes. While many teens initially fear that these might be like their physical education lessons, once they’ve been persuaded and experienced a class firsthand, they realize this is a great way to exercise. The class structure means they can work out with their friends in a small, girls-only environment where everyone can work at their own level without fear of competition.

A great way to build self-esteem and actively work towards the healthier, fitter body you aspire to.