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It's fantastic that you're concerned, and willing to try to help your niece! Having support from her family will be one of the most important things in the journey to health. I was a round kid and a fat teen, and I've only just recently gotten on the right track to health. I spent most of my youth thinking I was fat, and that my body wasn't capable of doing the active things I wanted to do. I was convinced that I was uncoordinated, ugly, and undesirable. It took my husband years to convince me that he thought I was beautiful, and years more than that for me to accept my body as it was. Ironically, it was when I really got comfortable in my own skin that I started pursuing a healthier body. About 9 months ago, I changed my outlook and decided to try the things I'd always thought I couldn't do. Now, 40 lbs and 4 sizes later, I'm amazed at what my body can do. I've become very aware of the "body positive" movement, as well as a trend towards encouraging health & fitness, not thinness, as a goal. If I may, I'd love to share some tips I've learned: Talk to Ashley about her health, not about her weight. It will make a difference to her to know that you aren't trying to help because she's fat, but because you're concerned about her overall well-being. As we go through puberty, our bodies fluctuate in size while they try to find their natural balance. Her natural shape may be rounder and fleshier than her friends, and that's completely ok. There are dancers, weight lifters, models, and healthy women everywhere who don't look like what you see in magazines. (Actually, even the women in magazines don't look like what you see in magazines, but that's a completely different conversation!) The most important aspect of health is what we eat. Encourage her to find more healthy eating habits, and the weight will sort itself out. Going on a strict diet or intense exercise regimen may work in the short term, but it won't teach her life-long health habits. She's young, and if she can learn the basics of how to treat her body now, she will be happy and healthy for years to come. What worked for me was to use an app on my phone to track what I ate and the exercise I did. (I like SparkPeople.com but I've also heard good things about My Fitness Pal). The purpose behind tracking is to become aware of the little changes you can make that make a huge difference. When you see in black & white exactly how much that extra dollop of sour cream "costs" in calories, it's easier to do without it. On the flip side, when you realize that you can make a GIANT smoothie packed with protein and nutrients for 300 calories, you'll never hit up the smoothie stand in the mall again. Let her know you're available for support when she's tempted to "cheat" - give her encouragement, or offer alternatives. And remember, you eat at least 21 meals in a week. If you are less than "perfect" on 2 or 3 of them, you're still doing awesome 90% of the time. Physical movement is a great way to do something with all the extra energy you get from eating well. If she approaches exercise as a way to release stress and have fun, she'll be much more successful than if she sees it as a chore. Encourage her to find a fun class to take, a team to join, or a game that appeals to her. It really doesn't matter what she does, as long as she's moving and smiling. If you're able, offer to go with her - you'll both get into shape, and she'll have support and accountability along the way. For some inspiration, take a look at http://www.canyoustayfordinner.com/ - it's the blog of a young woman who lost 135 pounds and has kept it off. I've also found lots of great inspiration on Pinterest - workouts, recipes, and reminders of my goals. My "Fit-spiration" and "Healthy Eats" boards are full of links that have helped me immensely, feel free to check them out at http://pinterest.com/tloudermilk/ Best of luck to your niece, and to you as you support her!