Now when I first read the title of this article, "Teen dieting linked to long-term problems," I was a little bit confused. In today's society so many teens are obsese, and this seems to be saying that they shouldn't diet?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12390031/
"Teens who go on diets or take unhealthy measures to lose weight may end up gaining pounds in the long run, according to a new study.
What's more, researchers found, these teens seem likely to get trapped in a pattern of unhealthy eating, extreme weight-loss tactics and, in some cases, overt eating disorders.
Among more than 2,500 teens in the study, those who said they were trying to control their weight were three times more likely than their peers to be overweight five years later. They were also at greater risk of having a binge-eating disorder, or to be vomiting or using diet pills, laxatives or diuretics in an effort to lose weight."
"The study included 2,516 Minnesota students who were surveyed about any weight-control measures they were taking. That included unhealthy forms of dieting — like skipping meals or replacing food with diet drinks — as well as diet changes that are considered healthful, such as eating more fruits and vegetables and fewer sweets."
"Overall, 58 percent of girls and 31 percent of boys reported some form of unhealthy weight-control practice. These teens were more likely to be overweight five years later, even with their current weight taken into account."
"And although unhealthy measures were most harmful, healthy dieting was also linked to a higher risk of being overweight or developing a binge-eating problem — at least among girls."
So many teens are obsese these days and this study seems to be telling them not to diet. Many try diets as quick fixez, but what they really need is to learn healthy eating and good exercise routines that they can keep for their entire lives.
This article was surprising that even teens who go on healthy diets were at a higher risk of being overweight later in life. So what's the solution? Excercise? Not dieting at all? I don't know, but something needs to be done to help our overweight and obese teens.
Another article said that 90% of Americans think people areound them are fat, but only 40% think they are too fat themselves. So many obese Americans don't even realize the fact that they're obsese. How can this country ever become heavier and less obsese if people don't even acknowledge their problem?
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I thik this country has a warped idea of what being obese and overweight really is. You have the ones who are stick thin and want to be even skinnier because White America tells them that that's what's sexy. I think that we have a lot of psychological issues we need to deal with first and when that's dealt with, all the rest will fall in place.
Again, we can't generalize. For the most part, teens on stupid crash diets are going to suffer from at least short-term health problems. Now diets monitored by professionals and done within logical and healthy means probably won't be so bad.
I think the article is talking about unecessary or unhealthy dieting.
I still feel that the best way to live a healthy life is to eat in moderation. Being on a diet deprives you from some of the foods you love. Sometimes being unaware about health risks and what foods are healthy can really make a difference between being obese or in a healthy range for weight.
Actually, a good diet does not deprive you of any food. Dieting is about calorie intake: you want to take in less calories than you consume. Therefore, you can eat anything as long as you eat less calories (although you may not get the nutrients you need). But generally, one can eat energy-dense (ie high caloric content) foods in small amounts sparingly. So you can have your tiny piece of cake and eat it too!
b-money
"A cactus is the opposite of a chair. In my house you can sit anywhere but there."
I guess we live in different communities, none of my friends are dieting big or skinny. I don't see any teenagers in my area [those i come in contact with] discussing dieting. I love to eat and will eat!!
I think that self-image plays a large role in teen dieting. Some teenage girls do need to lose weight, and some need to gain weight. I've somehow been lucky enough to never feel the need to alter my body with extreme dieting. I'm happy with how it looks (for the most part) and what it can do. Other girls aren't so lucky. I hope that one day when I have children I can teach them to be as confident as I am.
FutureMD is right in the self image part. I for one thing know and don't deny the fact that I am too skinny and don't weigh enough for my height and age. I also have a high metabolism and am working on trying to gain weight which can get difficult at times. Too give you an example of it: I went out to dinner for prom and had a huge 1\2 pound burger and french fries. At post prom all the food was free and in about a half hour, I ate 2 huge pieces of pizza, a couple Runzas, chips, breadsticks, a couple cookies, some carrots and an hour later I was hungry again. People need to realize the long term effects of dieting and the potential hazards of it too. Having a high metabolism and not doing anything to help that out just to look thin isn't a good idea either.
well maybe, just maybe. if they had health clubs for teens it would be better!!!
-Kristen
It's too bad people go on diets because they don't like the way they look. They all think that they have to be thin like most movie stars these days. What people need to realize is that by starving themselves to lose weight, they can really hurt themselves and cause major health issues like anorexia and bulemia which can in turn cause problems. One example would be all of the stomach acid that goes up and down the throat of a person with bulemia. It keeps burning away at the throat until it could possibly collapse. The best thing is to eat healthy, not skip any meals, and don't worry about what others think.