My daughter is 16 and not overweight, but she wants to lose a few pounds. I'm not against it, whatever makes her happy...but is she too young or is it okay?
2006-08-25 11:00:55 · 18 answers · asked by cookie 1 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
Here's an idea -- teach your daughter good eating habits (with appropriate portions and healthy food), and she won't ever have to diet. Make sure she has a healthy lifestyle with good food and plenty of exercise, and those few pounds will be gone and she'll feel a lot better without "dieting."
The idea of "don't diet, put on a few pounds...diet and lose it...do it all over again" seems to be ingrained in America, but often "few pounds" turns into "obese," and the diets become either more desperate or never get tried. It's as bad as binging and purging.
You should never have to "diet." You should eat properly every day and exercise regularly, and you won't have to. With a lifestyle like that, the occasional over-eating at a party, etc. won't have any effect on your weight. Teach her to live right, don't teach her to diet!
2006-08-25 11:06:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
dieting is just bad all the way around. It's not a permanent fix to the problem. Start some life-changing things that are doable. For example...One month I set a goal to stop using the elevator at work and use only the stairs. The next month I added on not eating chocolates of any kind except dark (suppose to be the not so bad kind). Just those two things and I see the difference in my body. For September I think I'm going to cut out eating out. It has to become a habit and easy to do and the slower the weight is lost the better the chance she will keep it off for good.
2006-08-25 18:07:27 · answer #2 · answered by The Steele's 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she's not overweight then she shouldn't be dieting to lose weight. You could try working on her diet with her to ensure she's getting enough fresh foods and nutrients to support her developing body, but not to start losing weight...it sounds as though she may need to work on her self image a bit - young girls are prone to more issues surrounding their body than any other age group or gender....maybe you can help her realize that a size zero is not realistic and the images we see - well most of those stars will be on E's True Hollywood in a few years talking about their drug abuse and anorexia - take her to the DR if she's still concerned about her weight and have them discuss the health aspects of dieting at her age.
Dieting to lose weight is triggered by size and health issues, not age...having a healthy diet is something everyone should be concerned with.
2006-08-25 18:07:06 · answer #3 · answered by Dogma Mom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
11
2006-08-25 18:19:44 · answer #4 · answered by pink_panther112594 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay this may not be the best answer for you because I am around your daughter's age. I think it's okay, just make sure she does it healthily. I've been told that it is safe to lose around 1 pound per week. You might want to make her make some lifestyle changes that might help her along for example eat breakfast and try to eat every 3 hours or so (smaller meals though). I've lost 12 pounds since April healthily this way. I've also done pilates and ran every other day.
2006-08-25 18:06:21 · answer #5 · answered by WILSON 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think at age 16, when your body is still GROWING, that it is NOT safe to consider dieting. And if she is NOT overweight, this could also potentially be the start of an eating disorder.
2006-08-25 18:06:28 · answer #6 · answered by KB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's normal for any teenager to want to lose weight, I know, I am one. We're constantly looking at skinny girls that look glamourous and beautiful, and we want to be like them too. It's alright to diet, as long as it doesn't mean cutting out too much food, try telling her instead to eat more veggies and fruit. Just watch her and make sure she's making healthy choices, not running off after the latest diet to hit the streets.
2006-08-25 18:06:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not overweight and wants to lose a few pounds sounds like anorexia to me. Tell her she is beautiful as she is and you are worried that she wants to lose weight. She may need therapy.
2006-08-25 18:06:49 · answer #8 · answered by Dennis Fargo 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone should eat sensibly all their life, and get some exercise. Read the labels on everything you eat, and limit yourself to a certain amount of calories every day. Also, make sure you don't eat too much salt, cholesterol and fat as it can have a bad effect on your health. Look on the labels to see how much salt, cholesterol and fat are in them.
Everyone varies as to the amount of calories they need every day.
2006-08-25 18:07:48 · answer #9 · answered by FL Girl 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is never too young to learn how to eat healthy and that is probably a better way to approach it. A diet is temporary, healthy eating is for life.
Teach her to eat healthy. To know a portion size, to know when to say NO
2006-08-25 18:07:01 · answer #10 · answered by starting over 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋