NNFED
ZINE issue 22
Dieting: Information for Teens
If
you are a teenager, you see them everywhere: media messages telling you to
change yourself. They are in magazines, on the Internet, on television and at
the movies. Most are ads designed to get you to buy something. One of the
strongest messages you get is that you need
to be thin. Images and words in the media tell you that being thin means
that you are beautiful, happy and in
control of your life. But in real
life, people who are happy and successful come in all shapes and sizes.
Along
with the pressure to be thin, you hear about different ways to lose weight. When
we hear about ‘going on a diet’, we usually think about eating less or
eating differently to try to lose weight. Going on a diet can mean making some
good choices about nutrition (eating more fruit, vegetables and fibre, or
cutting down on snack foods) or bad choices (skipping meals, eating too little
or not eating enough variety of food).
Many
teens turn to dieting to try to change their body and feel better about
themselves. Unfortunately, it usually does not work. Dieting actually causes
some people to gain weight. Teens who diet are often more concerned with how
they look than about their health. And this can lead to weight-loss goals that
are not healthy.
Did
you know? Fast facts about teens and dieting
- About one-half of teenage
girls (one in every two) and one-quarter (one in every four) of teenage boys
have tried dieting to change the shape of their body.
- More than one in three girls
(about 33%) who are actually at a healthy weight try to diet.
- Teens who don’t feel good
about themselves are more likely to diet. Compared with teens who don’t
diet, teens who do:
- are more unhappy with
their weight;
- tend to ‘feel fat’
even if they are not;
- have lower self-esteem;
- feel less connected to
their families and schools; and
- feel less in control of
their lives.
Dieting may make you feel:
- hungry and preoccupied
with food (thinking about it all the time);
- distracted and tired;
- sad and unmotivated;
- cold and dizzy; and
- deprived of foods you enjoy.
- Some forms of dieting can be
dangerous to your health, such as skipping meals, restricting food, using
weight loss pills or laxatives, going on ‘crash’ diets or vomiting after
eating.
- Teens are still growing and
need the right amount of nutrients to be healthy. Eliminating entire food
groups or taking in too few calories when you are still developing can have
serious negative effects on your health.
many
of teens talk about their weight. Isn’t it normal to worry?
- It is common for teens to feel
self-conscious. But constantly feeling bad about your body, worrying about
your weight or feeling guilty when you eat is not normal or healthy.
Sometimes this is called having a negative
body image. Teens that have a negative body image often lack confidence
in other areas of their lives as well.
- If you think you worry too
much about your weight or if having a negative body image is interfering
with your happiness, try to tell an adult you trust, like a parent, teacher
or doctor.
- Taking good care of your body
by eating well and being physically active is a good way to feel better
about yourself. It is important to be aware of the amount and quality of
food you eat, but you shouldn’t be obsessed with it.
Here are some tips for
healthy eating:
- Eat a wide variety of
foods every day.
- Eat breakfast every
day.
- Eat when you are hungry
and stop when you are full.
- Enjoy all four food
groups every day. Following Canada’s
Food Guide can be helpful.
- Choose water instead of
soft drinks or juice.
- Choose foods that are
high in cereal fibre like bran, wheat and rye including cereal or cereal
bars.
- When you eat out, stop
eating once you are full. Remember that in most restaurants (especially
fast food restaurants) portions are bigger than most people need at a
meal.
- Don’t use food to make
yourself feel better when you are bored, sad or upset.
- Physical activity is an
important part of staying healthy and feeling good about yourself. Spend
time everyday doing something active you enjoy, with people you enjoy.
For
more information about healthy eating and activity:
For
more information about weight pre-occupation and eating disorders:
To purchase books
about Eating Disorders visit
www.Gurze.net
Email
NNFED