Fad Diets and Teenagers

Fad Diets and Teenagers Problem

Fad diets rarely work, yet teenagers turn to them in hopes of a miraculous weight loss. What usually occurs is temporary weight loss followed by gaining the weight back. In most cases, the person gains back the weight they have lost and more. When this happens, the result is diminished self-esteem and another search for a quick weight loss solution.

Weight Loss Facts

The bottom line when it comes to weight loss is that slow and steady wins the race. Losing a lot of weight quickly means that your body is losing a lot of water weight, not fat. When you lose a lot of water from your body, you also disrupt the natural balance of electrolytes. This can cause many health problems including:

• Heart problems - even in the very young
• Heatstroke
• Kidney damage
• Death

Healthy Weight Loss

While it may be depressing to some who need to lose weight quickly, physicians recommend losing weight at the rate of 1-3 pounds per week. This will allow your body to adjust slowly to the changes and keep your heart and kidneys safe. It will also allow your skin to contract slowly as you lose weight. This may help you to avoid stretch marks and cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin if you have a lot of weight to lose.

Diets Don’t Work

Diets don’t work for several reasons. Primarily, a diet is a temporary way to lose weight. Diets are regimented and don’t take into consideration that variety is the spice of life. Most people have the best intentions when they begin a diet, but eventually they will become bored because it is hard to avoid certain foods. Especially the ones we crave.

What does work is eating balanced meals and getting enough exercise to burn off any excess calories. A fit individual burns more calories per hour than a person that is overweight. This is because muscles help us to burn fat. Fat doesn’t do anything; it is just stored energy.

Calories per Day

How many calories per day will a teenager need? According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the following calorie counts apply:

For teen girls, aged 14-18:

• Sedentary lifestyle - 1,800 calories per day
• Moderately active lifestyle - 2,000 calories per day
• Active lifestyle - 2,400 calories per day

For teen boys, aged 14-18:

• Sedentary lifestyle – 2,200 calories per day
• Moderately active lifestyle – 2,400 to 2,800 calories per day
• Active lifestyle – 2,800 to 3,200 calories per day

Exercise is Key

Exercise is the key to losing weight and keeping it off. If you don’t like to exercise, consider the health benefits:

• Improves your outlook and can help eliminate depression
• Improves the way your body looks
• Helps to reduce the risk of some diseases, especially as you grow older
• Increases the number of calories you use each day, which in turns helps you lose weight

If you don’t like exercising, perhaps you aren’t examining all of your options. Exercise doesn’t mean you have to go running or hitting a ball with a racket. There are quieter and gentler ways of losing weight that many people enjoy their entire lives. The following are some ideas on exercise that you may not have thought of:

• Masala Bhangra or Bollywood dance – can be done in the comfort of your own bedroom and it is lots of fun!
• Pilates, Yoga or a combination of the two – combines stretching and controlled breathing to tone your body without the impact on your joints of running or aerobics.
• Wii – Yes, this is a video game setup, but many people (especially sedentary individuals) have found that playing Wii games has helped them become more active and lose weight.
• Walking – walking is a great form of exercise, especially if you have recently decided to lose weight. It is low-impact and can be done virtually anywhere, from the local park to walking around your block for 20-minute intervals, three to five times each week.
• Roller skating – if you are lucky enough to have a roller rink in your town, consider strapping on the skates and enjoying a little music while you work out. Roller skates are great for toning up your lower body and overall weight loss.
• Tai Chi – this ancient form of martial arts is a popular form of exercise and can be done indoors or out. It teaches breathing and muscle control and is perfect for toning the body. It will take several weeks to learn all of the moves, but when you’ve mastered them it looks pretty cool!

Before you become the next victim of fad diets and teenagers, consider whether you want to gain all of the weight back, or perhaps more. It is much easier to lose weight sensibly by modifying your diet and adding a little exercise to your daily routine.