SubscribeTeenagers: Don't Start Dieting
A study of over 2,500 teenagers has shown that those who go on diets end up putting on more weight over time than their peers.
The teenagers were interviewed in 1999 and again 5 years later (published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association).
A massive 56% of girls reported dieting - with 25% of boys saying they had dieted at least once.
After 5 years - those who had previously dieted...
- ...were more likely to binge eat.
- ...now spend less time engaging in moderate or vigorous exercise.
- ...have now gained weight. Females gained 0.66 points on the BMI, males gained 0.77 BMI.
These factors are so interrelated it's hard to draw too many conclusions. The reduction in physical activity may have happened because of the weight gain.
A teenager definition of "dieting" could include anything from smoking, skipping meals, or starving - or even laxative abuse.
Many teenagers believe they can apply anything to their body - and it will happily put up with it. Unfortunately you reap what you sow. The good news is - with good nutrition and an active lifestyle - many health issues are reversible.
I can vouch for this one, at least in my case. I was 120 pounds when I began my first diet at the age of 13. When I ended my last diet at age 24, after gaining 3 pounds with Weight Watchers, I weighed 195. After five years of no dieting, I was down to 145. I'm now at 135 and holding for almost a year and a half. So that's the good dieting did me--helped me gain 75 pounds when I should have gained maybe 20 as I entered adulthood. I don't think dieting is good for anyone, but I think it's especially hard on growing bodies.
ReplyI find myself wondering if the weight gain is from their metabolism slowing down from severe calorie restriction.
I'm also curious about the activity level of these teens.
I'm sure their results would improve drastically with a little attention to nutrition and by dropping the video game controller and getting outside and moving.
ReplyUndernourished bodies don't grow. I skipped lunches in middle school, and ended up shorter than my dad. Tell your kids they'll end up stunted if they try to diet.
That's the one thing that can never be fixed.
Even if they diet off all their muscle by low calories and low protein intake, those can be later grown. But I'll always be short.
ReplyThis truth should be taught to all teenagers in school. Their ways of dieting are inappropriate and unhealthy. Though these kinds of acts are already given to them as a warning.
ReplyI guess most of them will not stop until they've proven this thought.
Yeah, I had the same problem (kind of), where I started dieting right after my 14th birthday. Then I got an eating disorder from 14 through about 17, and now I'm a lot healthier, but it was really hard getting my body to understand I wasn't going to abuse it anymore.
But really, that's irrelevant to my point.
My point is that teenagers do not diet because they want to (who wants to restrict everything they eat? it sucks!). And I don't think that teaching them in schools not do diet or that there are health risks will really help too much.
Because schools are absolutely not the only place that kids learn. They're probably one of the last places. How does it make any sense to allow video game companies, fast food companies, and I guess the whole television industry to spend billions of dollars on advertising SPECIFICALLY focused at young people, and then blame them for watching tv and eating crap?
And on top of that, how does it make any sense to let the dieting industry spend billions of dollars a year (they're one of the biggest spenders, period) to tell them that they look unattractive and need to diet? And then blame them for that?
What I'm saying is that young people do not learn things in the vacuum of school (thank god for that, considering our schools), but that they absorb EVERYTHING society throws at them. You wonder when they will learn? They'll learn when they don't live in a tug-of-war of people trying to get their money and doing everything they can to succeed at it. They'll learn when they aren't in a society that has absolutely distorted views of what makes someone attractive. It is so freaky to go through puberty, to gain large amounts of weight at once, for your entire body shape to potentially change. When we live in a society that embraces those changes and tell kids that their changing bodies are beautiful, no matter what stage they're in, then I think kids will learn.
Forgive me if I'm preaching to the choir, but hopefully someone will get something out of this.
ReplyTEENS WHO USE FREE ONLINE DIETS BEWARE!
If you or your teen is dieting I seriously recommend discouraging them. Not only has there been ample proof that these teens "yo-yo" or "cycle" - gaining more weight afterwards - but it's also well established that they're also not getting the nutrition they critically need during these developing years.
Visit any credible dietitian's diet site (www.a-personaldietitian.com, www.eatright.org, www.dietitian.com ) or even a commercial weight loss site like www.ediets.com, you'll note even commercial diet sites with a vested interest in making money recommend teens do not diet and instead: a) eat a diet with maintenace calories only and b) do so while increasing their activity levels through an exercise routine that they can enjoy and stick to.
Kids can easily find calorie calculators that give them their maintenance calories using the internet. There are even dietitian, physician and nurse's programs for those less inclined to take any initiative. One I found within minutes that looked okay was Slimkids.com. The site isn't up to date but the program looks good and is only $24.00. Here's the about information for this program: http://www.slimkids.com/program.asp but do look around as there are probably others too.
ReplyJessica, in the choir over here, I agree with you. My experience was similar to yours.
Young people don't learn these behaviors in schools alone--they absorb them from the messages that are pounded into our heads 24/7 by an omnipresent media which is influenced (and paid for) by the diet and pharmaceutical industries. Television, movies, magazines, books, all blast the messages over and over that slenderness achieved by body-hatred is the way to go: put yourself down, buy a pill, lose weight, your problems solved! Never mind your character or skills or ethics, appearance is all that matters! We displace inner problems onto outer products and think everything is solved through buying and fixing.
One way to survive this brainwaishing is to have a strong family bond through which healthier, more loving values and attitudes are communicated. But unfortunately, not everyone has strong family connections or even time to communicate anymore. Teens without parental guidance are extremely vulnerable to outside influences which do not have their best interests in mind. These companies just want to recruit more customers.
ReplyDiets are definately not neccessary for teens. I eat a ton, like all other 16 year old guys, probably more, and I'm in very good shape. (For those of you obsessed with image, I've got a sixpack) I probably eat 3000 calories every day. However, I also work out a lot. I run around 5 miles every day, and do lots of pushups and situps. I finish a homework assignment and do a set of situps before moving to the next one. I'm waiting for dinner to be ready? I'll drop and do a set of pushups. It really adds up, and you don't need to set aside time to work out. Diets are unhealthy for people who are still growing like us. Don't do it. Excercise instead.
ReplyWell I went on a "diet" and went a little overboard, I guess you could call it anorexia because my weight went from 125 to 105 in 2 months (I'm 5'7") and I stopped my period and all that jazz. I eat normally now, in fact I'd say I eat quite a lot, but my weight doesn't really go up. I'm not really active at all either; I'm in theatre, not sports. i weigh about 108 now and don't gain weight. It's weird. I think what happens is girls lose weight by restricting their food, but don't excercise enough. they lose muscle mass which slows the metabolism and makes them gain weight back as fat when thy start eating normally again. me, i was running and doing toning SO much every day that I think i actually built muscle mass. I just lost too much fat.
ReplyI agree. In fact diet is serious if not taken well or not understood which is in the case of teenagers. What they need is moderation of food that they eat. A good example should be set for them to follow and understand it fully. Or probably they need the life experience to learn.
ReplyOk, I'm like 13 and i weight like 115, or sumtin. I wanan lose weight cuz yeah,i dont wanna be fat. I have this friend and she weighs like 180 or 190 (same age as me) and i feel that if i dont wanna end up like that i have to diet. my other friend went on um diet pills and lost weight, her name is Element, shes my age as well. Should I try dieting or just leave my body alone?? I ahev this really bad belly it like sticks out...it's horrible and my legs are like HUGE!!! I feel soo fat!
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O.K. Lets look at the facts.
The basic course is moderation. Some whole grains to moderate amounts of red meat.
Let's look at some facts on the so-called "forbidden foods".
The first one is butter. Many people are calling this a killer because of the "trans fats" and saturated fats on the butter. Some restaurants are even banning butter because of the trans fats ban. This is an exception because the natural trans fats is not the same as the artificial trans fats found in margarine and shortening. And the fact is, you need some saturated fats in your diet for calcium and vitamin D absorption. But more is not good. But we now know what the "true" bad fats are, and it's hydrogenated and interestrified oils that are the culprit. There are some product out there that say "1 gram of trans fat on the nutrition facts label" but doesn't have hydrogenated oils. This is because the trans fats are the natural CLA trans fats. Therefore, focus on the INGREDIENTS section and look for the words: "hydrogenated" or "interestrified". If you see any of these words, avoid it. On the summary, the natural trans fats are the healthy trand fats, but the artificial trans fats are the bad trans fats.
The second is red meat. Many people say "It raises cholesterol, and it causes cancer". Well, Red meat is a good source of iron and other nutrients that creates red blood cells. Also, new studies are showing that lean red meats can lower cholesterol better than soy products like tofu. Red meat prevents anemia and has some nutritional value. My say, eat red meat at least once a week, but no more than twice a week. And eat fish.
So, moderation is the key. Try cutting down your portions.
ReplyThe teens are a tough time, though, and girls especially feel so much pressure to fit in and be thin. I don't think teen dieting is going to end, no matter what health problems occur from it. The teens don't care! They've got their whole life ahead of them, and you can never see the consequences until you get to them.
ReplyHi Dorta,
I am 23 years old and at 13 years old I was very overweigt just like your friend is while my friends around me all weighed about what you are weighing now. So, then I went on an extreme diet for about 6 months and lost about 60 pounds in order to start looking like the people around me, except the only problem was that I wasn't dieting properly and this was effecting my health for example I felt dizzy, weak and etc.
I think at your age your body is still going through some changes and I do believe that you are at a normal weight. Instead of dieting why don't you just try exersizing more and if you find excersize boring try sports or be active with friends. Time passes by faster when you are playing sports with friends compared to how slow time passes when you are on a tredmill. A little piece of advice, please don't diet and if you plan to, do it the right way and see a dietician.I think sometimes we are all worried about our body images, you are not the only one.
Take Care
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Hi Matt,
You have some really good advice. I like your idea about eating alot but also exercising alot too at the same time. I think I'm going to test out your idea and see if it works. Seven years ago I managed to lose about 60 pounds by dieting but after I stopped dieting I gained back like 15-20 pounds throughout those seven years. Now, I want to lose abit of weight since I'm going to Italy for 6 weeks and I want to look good. It seems that the only way for me to lose weight is to eat less and exersize alot. I think this time i'm going to try your new theory " eat more and exersize more". Great advice.
Thanks
Take care :)
ReplyHi Jessica and Peace Cat,
I total agree with the both of you. You both have great points. I also think that society is the major problem. It seems that everywhere we look we see attractive body images of people mainly on televison,movies, commercials, magazines, billboards, internet and etc. The media not only exposed these attractive images but also tells the people in society how to get these bodies, for instance by taking diet pills or going on diets. It seems like this world is all about body images and dieting and fitting into the latest fashion. No kidding teenagers want to diet, it seems that this is the only information they are exposed to. It's just sad.
ReplyI'm 15, and 5'9 and 118lbs.I recently tried dieting but it just made me binge more and feel guilty and horrible for eating normal amounts of healthy food. If I continued dieting for a long period of time I'd have eventually given up and my metabolism would be permanently screwed and I'd just gain and gain instead of maintaining. Diets should only be for obese people, and the rest should just eat healthy with moderation.
ReplyHi Lyssa,
I think you said some really powerful words that many people should take as advice. As you said eating healthy and moderately is the key to a healthy life. I always say, people can eat whatever they want but it's important to eat in small portions. I actually tried many diets in my life and you are right they just make you binge more and only make you feel guilty afterwards. My advice is stay away from diets whoever is planning on going on one next.
ReplyHi Vic,
I don't think it should only be the school that teaches teenagers how dieting is inappropriate and unhealthy. I think it's also up to parents to teach their teenagers this and then it should be up to teenagers to make the right choice. I do think that they are at an age that their body image means everything to them this my be why teachers and parents may have a difficult time getting through them. On top of that, just take a look around us and what the media is portraying as beautiful bodies. I think this has alot to do with why teenagers are dieting.
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I think it is so important that we teach our kids how to eat well and that exercise is a part of life. I eat more veggies now that I am modeling behaviors for my girls and they are coming to see me run (or rather jog) in my first organized road race.
I danced in high school and was dieting all through those years, but dieting doesn't mean eating well at all.
ReplyMy mom let me go on a 3-day diet with her when I was not even a teen yet. I wasn't fat at all. That was the start of many, many years of starvation followed by bingeing.
Teens may get the message that they need to lose weight from the media, but parents reinforce it. I know many moms who engage in "fat talk" constantly in front of their children, whether they really need to lose weight or not. I try to avoid any comments on my body or anyone else's, especially in front of my daughters. I model healthy eating and a regular program of exercise. So far, my children seem normal, though my (very skinny) 9-year-old has commented to me that her stomach is "fat". I set her straight and she seems to get getting the message. She even pointed out to me that the woman on the hair color box couldn't be real because her skin was flawless.
ReplyHi,
I accidently wrote a message to Dorta when really it was advice for the the teenager who is called Ummmm.
Sorry for the mistake
ReplyI have been trying to diet for a long time. Now I'm 18 and it's like I'm sick of trying to restrict myself from eating. But now it seems like all I do is binge. I try to eat small portions, but I'm too greedy and want more to eat. I remember last year that someone asked me if I live to eat or eat to live. For me, it seemed like it was the first one.
ReplyIt just sucks because it's one big cycle. If I eat too much, I feel bad and guilty. For a while, this past year, I would throw up several times a week and I would feel better, and I started to get skinny and I kind of liked feeling that way.
Then one day, I went to this big dinner and I was sitting with all these other skinny people and I felt like I couldn't eat. Some of that food was even my favorite. I felt so awkward that someone else told me to eat. Ever since that day, I've been rebelling and not eating healthily. I used to eat healthily--fruit, veggies, meat, but I tried to limit my carb intake--I guess it helped me lose weight. I exercise and go to the gym, but lately, as my eating habits have been getting worse, I've been exercising less. I love to exercise--maybe that's why I haven't given up food, even though I do know some anorexics who have, but play sports. I could never starve myself. I kind of wish I could be like those models in magazines and starve myself, but I know it's impossible.
Hi Lyssa,
I feel like I can relate to you with the guilt and bingeing, except that I'm not as thin as you are. I'm 18, 5'4 and 122 lbs. I wish that I could be, though, but it's torturous to keep having to diet, then binge, etc. It really sucks.
There's this girl in my class and I've known her for 3 years. She seems like she's shrinking away --I think she's starving herself, but I'm not that close to her. I don't mean to be disrespectful to Coke drinkers, but she doesn't have lunch and drinks Coke instead. I wish I could be like her, but I know that I can't deal with dieting anymore. It feels like I can't restrict myself and eat healthily and diet. I used to restrain myself from eating a lot of carbs and "bad" foods, especially chocolate--so I have always looked for those 100 calorie Chips Ahoy packs and what-not. But now that I've eaten poorly for a month, I'm afraid of the continuation and that I'll get fat. So I'm going to try to eat healthily again, even if that means getting caught up in this cycle again.
In response to Susan, I think I've had similar experiences. Even though my mom never told me to go on a diet, she always told me that my younger sister (2 years younger) had a double chin and that her tummy stuck out. My sister was not chunky at all. Also, my mom always says that her stomach sticks out, but it doesn't really. She used to say so-and-so was fat. Anyway...
Replyif you are about 6 feet tall and only weighed 118 pounds...there was no problem. actually....thats a bit scary.
Replyhi,
I'm 5' 8" and I weigh like 125, latley I've been weighing 130-135.
I feel Huge. I hate it. I want to lose a lot of weight.
I'm like a size 3 or 4 and I want to be a size 0.
I want to be 115.
should I just not eat. I tried that, what do I do???
Reply~Confused
Maria your not fat. YOur verry skinny. If you feel you need to lose weight, and you do not, but if you want to, then eat healthy and excericse, there is nothing more to it.
Replyhiyah..im 14 n am recovering from an eating disorder! Ov course it didnt start off like that, it was just a normal diet to try and loose a few pounds but it gets obsessive and i wish i never began im about 92 pounds n 5"3!Please to any teen wanting to diet dont!! its not healthy! All you need is to exercise reguly and eat a balanced diet and you'll never be fat! trust me its the worst thing ive ever been through in my life!
ReplyTo all you young ladies out here: PLEASE DO NOT DIET!!!
Do you want to wind up like me with stunted growth, brain damage, rotten teeth, and a screwed up metabolism? This year alone I've had $3,000 worth of dental bills as my teeth are so rotten from not drinking milk and eating rice and other starchy foods during a strict very low fat diet that a nutritionist put me on when I was fifteen. I also have to attend tutoring sessions at the disabled center at my college as I have math learning disabilities from lack of fats in my diet as a teenager.
Yes I blame the media partially as when I have kids they won't be watching some of these cartoons with hidden "dieting" messages. Since I'm someone who had an eating disorder I find a lot of crap hidden in cartoons like "Oh don't eat that you will get fat!" Eat the celery instead!". What about the old messages "Everything in moderation." and "Have some eggs, cheese, or even peanut butter on toast for breakfast." commercials instead all of this hidden "dieting" crap that we are selling children these days? And these dolls I see for little girls these days? Even barbie is getting too thin and provocative for my taste. I will never allow my daughters ( when I have children) to play with barbies or those nasty little waifish bratz dolls.
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