Teenagers and dieting

[Miranda]

This has been on my mind for a while, and I thought I might as well post it.

I've recently noticed an increase of threads by teenage girls in the female forum regarding fat loss, 'cutting' and body recomposition in general. In my opinion people should take caution answering teenage girls' questions. It's questionable to encourage healthy young girls to 'diet' or to 'count calories' for many reasons.

First off, teenage bodies are still GROWING. Not only do teenagers need to focus on providing their bodies enough nutrition to go through puberty, but teenagers' weight is scaled against children/adolescent BMI charts. NOT adult charts. A 15-year-old whose weight would put her in underweight category were she an adult and put her 'at risk', is often NOT underweight.

There is a lot of individual variety to this as everyone develops at their own pace. Still, there's no way to assess a child's physical development based on a few posts only. There's little to be gained from alarming someone about their weight, when they're perfectly fine for their age. For more info on teenage BMI charts, CLICK HERE.

Second, anyone under 18 tends to live at home. Their parents often carry out the groceries and cook for them. Wouldn't you be concerned if your daughter started to refuse food for no good reason, or started to complain about it? And if your child was overweight, wouldn't you want her to talk it out with you, or a family doctor first?

While teens are in theory able to make decisions for themselves, they're still minors. They are not fully in control of what they can do (legally and otherwise). When you 'give them advice' you cut out their primary caregivers.

Third, many children and adolescents (and adults) struggle with negative body image. Society places immense pressure on young girls to be slim and compare to their peers, while media and well-meaning public campaigns focus indiscriminately on weight loss as a means to be 'healthy'.

Bodybuilding and other physique sports that emphasise control over one's body and encourage extreme levels of leanness as an end to itself, have an immense pull on people who are extremely preoccupied with their looks or already struggle with body image. Improving one's appearence and 'getting ripped', after all, is the bread and butter (or chicken and broccoli, har har) of bodybuilding, as well as the primary goal for many who take up weights.

Body image is how you see, think and feel about the body. This can have little to do with your actual appearance. Women in Western countries commonly tend to believe they are larger and fatter than they really are. Distorted body image can lead to self-destructive behaviour, like smoking and laxative use to stay thin, lifelong 'dieting' or disordered eating.

Even primary-school kids aren't immune to the pressure to be 'thin', and it's not necessarily due to peer pressure. Children imitate their parents, and their parents' attitudes toward food and eating.

It is not uncommon for a poor body image and pressure to 'diet' to spiral into an eating disorder. Even 'moderate' repetitive dieting increases the risk of developing an eating disorder such as anorexia or bulimia nervosa in predisposed young girls. Orthorexia nervosa, where the person derives self-esteem from rigid and restrictive food choices is less known, but quite common and sometimes encouraged in certain bodybuilding circles. A teenager who's ashamed to expose her body to public scrutiny may stop exercising altogether. Or, the dissatisfaction can lead to obsessive overexercising.

Whilst boys are affected too (around a quarter of adolescent eating disorders occur in boys), eating disorders are more likely to develop in girls. Telling a teenager she should 'diet' when there's no reason to can have grave repercussions.

Even if the teenager is physically developed, physical maturity doesn't equal psychological maturity. Girls are pressurised to 'grow up' very fast in modern society. That doesn't mean they naturally catch up at the same pace, or can communicate their needs. This often leaves them in no-man's-land.

The earlier you start to obsess about your body, the more susceptible you are to developing a distorted body image or an eating disorder later in life. This doesn't mean things will magically be all right when you turn 18. While adults by no means have it 'easy' in this regard, struggling with body image can be that much harder and cause lifelong ramifications when you're very young and not fully cooked.

Children and teenagers need to focus more on being active, not 'dieting' or living by numbers. Often just making better food choices with plenty room for flexibility is enough to ensure both mental and physical wellbeing.

Negative body image develops over the course of your life. Changing takes time and effort. Some good ideas include:

- Reflect on your experiences and TALK about your feelings and concerns with others.
- Make a pact with yourself to treat your body with respect, not hatred or derision.
- Learn to 'listen to' your body's different cues and signals. Give it enough food and rest.
- Don't label foods as 'good' and 'bad'.
- Don't force yourself to eat foods you don't like because you feel you 'should'.
- Try not to criticise others' appearance. This reinforces your thinking patterns.
- Learn to see physical activity as a source of fun and enjoyment, rather than as a means for fat loss or punishment.
- Make goals that focus on health, not 'fat loss'.

Simply put, if what you do causes anxiety, guilt, social withdrawal or makes you feel bad about yourself . . . you're on the wrong track.

If you feel depressed about your body, or engage in unhealthy behaviours like binging/purging or compulsive exercise, please consider seeking professional help. Doctors and counsellors can offer help and refer you to a specialist, such as a nutritionist or a psychologist.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org
http://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/
http://www.something-fishy.org/

[thepowerwithin]

As is always the case with you, Miranda, great and informative post. I never new teenagers have a different BMI chart. Good to know.

My son is 15 and extremely, almost painfully thin and his eating habits suck. I can literally count his ribs when he has his shirt off and legs/arms are like tooth picks. I just did his calculations and he is at the bottom of the healthy range, BMI 17.7 - 11th percentile. I feel much better.

Again, thanks for posting.

[megdaig]

Must spread reps...


I too have been noticing the high influx of teenagers (summer vacation effect?) and simply cannot respond to any of their posts comfortably...I end up just walking away and leaving it at that.

Good stuff Miranda.

[kimm4]

Must spread reps...


I too have been noticing the high influx of teenagers (summer vacation effect?) and simply cannot respond to any of their posts comfortably...I end up just walking away and leaving it at that.

Good stuff Miranda.

Agreed.^^

Well said Miranda.

[Cara0915]

New sticky?

[ElevatedVaal]

but how about if you were overweight, then decided to cut? the problem with cutting at age 12, for me, was i then fell into an anorexic state of mind.


this is my story, how i was overweight, then got to skinny

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...post1105376803

[acrawlingchaos]

Are you recommending that we abstain from giving advice to minors, or suggesting we should limit advice to referring them elsewhere?

What would you think is the most appropriate way to address teens and their concerns?

[Lauren1987]

Are you recommending that we abstain from giving advice to minors, or suggesting we should limit advice to referring them elsewhere?

What would you think is the most appropriate way to address teens and their concerns?

I don't think it's abstaining from giving advice to minors, more to be careful of the advice you give so that it doesn't encourage unhealthy habits. Encouraging them to eat well, eat properly and not focus on excessive weight loss / muscle gaining practices so they can let their natural bodies develop is probably the most sensible way to encourage their overall health. Keeping fit and working out is a good thing, but too much of it isn't.

I hope I worded that right.

Miranda - this is a great post. Definitely deserving of a rep

[birdiefu]

Great topic to bring up, very nice Miranda! I have also noticed a lot of "cookie cutter" advice given to youngsters as if they are physically and mentally capable of the same rigors as one who had fully matured in those areas.

[heidismommy]

New sticky?

I agree, this should be stickied. Very informative post with lots of great points!

[alyshabruso]

Great post. I agree, it is a very touchy subject. Each person is struggling with their own problems and need to be addressed in an individual way.

Negative body image develops over the course of your life. Changing takes time and effort. Some good ideas include:

- Reflect on your experiences and TALK about your feelings and concerns with others.
- Make a pact with yourself to treat your body with respect, not hatred or derision.
- Learn to 'listen to' your body's different cues and signals. Give it enough food and rest.
- Don't label foods as 'good' and 'bad'.
- Don't force yourself to eat foods you don't like because you feel you 'should'.
- Try not to criticise others' appearance. This reinforces your thinking patterns.
- Learn to see physical activity as a source of fun and enjoyment, rather than as a means for fat loss or punishment.
- Make goals that focus on health, not 'fat loss'.

Simply put, if what you do causes anxiety, guilt, social withdrawal or makes you feel bad about yourself . . . you're on the wrong track.

This is great advice

[acrawlingchaos]

Miranda - this is a great post. Definitely deserving of a rep

I think it's an excellent write up.

I was sincerely curious about how she believed teens should be handled. Re-read her article, saw where she mentioned it.... I'm good now.

[LHarwood]

Must spread reps...


I too have been noticing the high influx of teenagers (summer vacation effect?) and simply cannot respond to any of their posts comfortably...I end up just walking away and leaving it at that.

Good stuff Miranda.

This. can't rep you again..dammit

Excellent write up.

[VoxExMachina]

Good points for the forum "community" to be aware of, IMO.

It's always tough to give generic advice to new members in the first place; when it comes to teenagers, it can become even more complicated.

[flyfreefit]

Nicely written, Miranda

[penny0527]

Something for everyone to think about. I usually pass over the posts by teens because I don't feel I have adequate knowledge on their growing bodies. Due to being on these forums my eyes have been opened to how many people have eating disorders and fear of food. To give advice to a teen could be setting them up for trouble with food later on. Often times a few less times through the drive through per week is all the person needs to do. Better choices should be sought rather than a total overhaul of their diet.

[BEEvon]

Very informative post. Glad it was made a sticky!! Thank you Miranda! Reps can not reflect how much I learn from your posts!!!!!

[DiannaPrince]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Miranda again.

Great post.

[kabirmkta1]

helpful topic

[Alien5]

ahh yesh all helpful. i never 'dieted' per se as a teenager. however i did DOOM myself in the 5th grade by deciding to become vegetarian, and i havent been able to shake it. i do go heavy on the proton powder, but cant seem to like chicken (or fish even) for the life o me. doomed to have measly muscles forevs. wah.

[stevialu]

Great topic, I agree with you!

[mosayf]

great article thank's

[hkitkatp]

well i'm a teen (18) and yes i diet year round and cut out all bad foods- and i'll tell you why:

About two years ago, i was mildly chubby, 5'2" and 127 lbs. I was the cruelest joke ever, chubby and totally flat chested (i have a disorder that caused my breasts to never develop, it does not change with weight fluctuations) I wanted to puke every time i looked at myself in the mirror. And i was convinced no guy would ever ever want to be with someone wit ha body like mine.
So now 2 years later, i'm 5'2" 105 lbs, and i feel so much better about myself.
I figure breast implants may not be an option YET (but i'm looking in to them) but what i can control is how the rest of my body looks, so yes i diet all year

[illiniStrive]

well i'm a teen (18) and yes i diet year round and cut out all bad foods- and i'll tell you why:

About two years ago, i was mildly chubby, 5'2" and 127 lbs. I was the cruelest joke ever, chubby and totally flat chested (i have a disorder that caused my breasts to never develop, it does not change with weight fluctuations) I wanted to puke every time i looked at myself in the mirror. And i was convinced no guy would ever ever want to be with someone wit ha body like mine.
So now 2 years later, i'm 5'2" 105 lbs, and i feel so much better about myself.
I figure breast implants may not be an option YET (but i'm looking in to them) but what i can control is how the rest of my body looks, so yes i diet all year

Honestly, it sounds like whatever self-esteem and/or mental issues you were dealing with (and probably still are, since those kinds of things don't disappear with lost body fat) far outweigh whatever physical imperfections you thought you had. Dieting all year round is not (mentally) healthy; you might want to seek professional help.

[hkitkatp]

illiniStrive- i see a therapist, but i still find i can't shake some of the nasty things other teens and adults for that matter said back when i was chubby and flat chested. And while lost body fat hasn't totally gotten rid of the problem, i mean i'm still totally flat and i still get teased, but being thin i feel way better than i did two years ago. I'm afraid to tell my therapist about my dieting year round for fear i will be admitted to some rehab.

[hkitkatp]

i don't really know what to do, hell if i hadn't been genetically predispositioned for having zero breast fat/tissue, i probably would not give a damn about dieting, but i do count calories daily

[tvist]

I agree with what you said, especially the BMI thing. I'm not yet 18 and every time I go to the doctor he calculates my BMI and informs me in a snarky way that Ii'm underweight and I should gain 10kg (22lbs). I do not look underweight at all, I eat very healthy, work out and the teen BMI calculators on the net say I'm definitely normal weight.

We should still give teens advice but at least warn them about dangers.

[Alien5]

I agree with what you said, especially the BMI thing. I'm not yet 18 and every time I go to the doctor he calculates my BMI and informs me in a snarky way that Ii'm underweight and I should gain 10kg (22lbs). I do not look underweight at all, I eat very healthy, work out and the teen BMI calculators on the net say I'm definitely normal weight.

We should still give teens advice but at least warn them about dangers.

your doctor sounds like a perv. no offense to doctors everywhere.

[wakechica]

On spread... also didn't know about the teenage/child BMI charts. Very informative.

[superja]

I agree with what you said, especially the BMI thing. I'm not yet 18 and every time I go to the doctor he calculates my BMI and informs me in a snarky way that Ii'm underweight and I should gain 10kg (22lbs). I do not look underweight at all, I eat very healthy, work out and the teen BMI calculators on the net say I'm definitely normal weight.

We should still give teens advice but at least warn them about dangers.

And even on the adult bmi chart, it only takes 3lbs for you to not be underweight. Your doc should chill.
I dealt with that all through high school. 5'3", 95 lbs. Very underweight apparently, but never had any health problems.

Great post Miranda.