[Gupta:] We're back with HOUSE CALL. We've been talking to struggling parents this is morning. After going on my Fit Nation Tour earlier this year, one thing I learned was that parents are grappling with another issue as well. And that is talking with their teens. And now more than ever getting through especially to girls is critical. Kathy Kassun and 17-year old Molly Kassun have a tight mother-daughter relationship. They talk about everything from school, to shopping, to prom. And also more sensitive subjects like weight and dieting.
[Molly Kassun:] Probably back in the sixth and seventh grade when I did have go through my phase where I thought I was too overweight, and I would barely be eating enough for like one meal. And that would be my day. And I think that was my drastic time.
[Kathy Kassun:] I think it's just all around them. Advertising. And they just want to have that perfect body, which is so thin. And you know, it's not healthy.
[Gupta:] Turns out Molly is not alone. Many teenagers feel intense pressure from what they see in media and advertising and from their peers to be thin. If you're a parent who has a teenager who's obese or struggling with weight issues, how do you approach the subject without hurting their self esteem? Diane Neumark-Sztainer, author of "I'm Like So Fat" has interviewed thousands of teenagers and offers up this insight.
[Prof. Diane Neumark-sztainer, University Of Minnesota:] My advice to parents is to talk less and do more. We spend so much time talking about dieting and weight. Not very effective. And what we can do can make a bigger difference.
[Gupta:] She says parents should listen to how they talk about weight. Their words are powerful and they should be positive.
[Neumark-sztainer:] When they get dressed in the morning, do you say something like do you think I look fat in these pants? Or do you say, oh, I like the way I look? Those kinds of messages can be very, very strong for a teenage daughter who's growing up and looking at her mother.
[Gupta:] So here's some specific things she says parents can do help their teenagers. Focus less on weight and more on health. Encourage self esteem rather than looks. Buy healthier foods and snacks. Get active. Work out together. Buy a family membership to a gym. Molly and her mother have created a healthy lifestyle. And they say dieting doesn't fit into their lives. Good luck, Molly. And that's really important advice I think for everybody. Unfortunately, we're out of time for today. Make sure to tune in every weekend for a look at the fight against obesity in this country, as we work towards a fit nation. Also, don't forget to send us your e-mail questions on health topics from A to Z. That's at Housecall@cnn.com. You can see if they're answered on HOUSE CALL every weekend. Thanks for watching. I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Stay tuned now for more news on CNN. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.voxant.com