Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Teenagers and Diets, When and How to Do it

By Ricardo d Argence

A very controversial issue with Youths is dieting. Ignoring eating disorders, despite obesity in people under 18 being at an all time high in America, cannot be tolerated. Some teens really do need to lose weight but many do not. Weight management by a combined approach of a sensible diet, along with exercising on a regular basis will help control you weight, even though most children should not be put on a severely restricted diet.

Excess calories not used by energy requirements in children will be converted to fat and then stored. However, if a child consumes fewer calories than their minimum energy threshold, then their body fat is converted into energy to make up for the calorie deficit.

So, what do you do if you don't have the ideal body? What do you do if you're overweight, underweight, or just want to get rid of a little excess fat? Is it possible to change your body?

Let's face it, some amount of change is always possible but for some people that amount is much smaller than for others, based on various factors. You won't be able to control all of them.

Puberty. Though you may not realize it, puberty can have a major affect on your weight and the shape of your body. Both girls and boys can expect to gain weight as well as height during puberty. Hormones released during this time often cause boys to gain muscle and girls to experience an increase in body fat. These changes are normal but may make you feel like you're overweight, even if you're not.

Genes. Especially if you are the only one in your group who is not svelte, it can be very difficult. Your apperance has everything to do with your gene factors. A child with overweight parents has a high risk of being overweight themselves.

What you eat. You can't do anything about the gift of genes from your parents, but you can do a lot about what you put into your body as fuel. Choosing fried foods and foods filled with sugar instead of fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains leads to lots of calories, but very little nutrition.

Before you decide to go on a diet or weight loss program, take some time to figure out if you're really overweight or if you have a distorted body image. You should also talk to your parents and your doctor about any weight issues you may have and about whether losing weight is something you should be concerned about. - 15252

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