Can teenagers around the age 13-16 diet?

Question

At the age of 13 I was fat and short, weighing 150 and only 5'4, I was fat. Then after about a year when I turned 14 I started to diet. I cut out all my snacks( Desserts/sweets...all junk foods.)All I ate was vegetables and meat. But I was eating small portions and stopped eating when I was about full. Then I tried eating 6-8 small meals, and I I lost 10 pounds. I also started weight training, and my mom was afraid that if I didn't eat enough I would not have good nutrients to my muscles and I could possibly stunt my growth. Well, I'm almost 15 and I'm definatley eating alot more of everything besides a lot of desserts. I eat alot of "real food". I'm really afraid that I stunted my growth by not eating enough. My mom is about 5'4 1/2 and my dad is 5/9. Right now I'm 14 1/2 and I'm 5'7 I don't want to stunt my growth. My goal is to be at least 5'10.

Thankyou for your time

Answer 1

Yes and No now let me explain.

First off your height is not determined by what you eat, that is genetics. You can't set a goal height and try to eat different things to obtain that height. Your MD can better determine by your growth pattern how tall you will be.

My son's Pediatrician said that it is best that the child learn to eat right and then grow into their weight.

Your Mom is right you need to each in order to have the proper nutrition needed to grow and develop. Even when you get to your max height you continue to grow inside. But growing and stunting your growth are two different things. Unless you starve you don't need to worry about it affecting your height.

You can eat and watch portion control but make sure you are eating what is good for you and your not taking in a bunch of empty calories (like regular soda and candy) they add extra calories and no nutrients.

You can eat out and order Subs from Subway and grilled chicken sandwiches. Avoid mayonnaise and such things...

You are on the right track, watch portions and keep exercising and you will do super. Swimming is super, walking and weight training great. Have some fun too, riding a bike or playing basketball.

Eat fresh fruit for snack.

KUDOS for wanting to change your life style. Makes it a lot easier when you are older.

Best of luck!

Answer 2

You've still got some growing to do. If anything will stunt your growth it will be the weight training. You are never too young to eat right and have a healthy diet, but be careful not to push yourself too hard when you're working out. A good exercise for weight is running, or even walking. Eating small is definitely key as well. The average person overeats by about 15 minutes. Take your time when you are eating. The slower you eat, the quicker you realize you are full. Hope I helped. :)

Answer 3

Hey buddy, first and foremost what you are eating or not eating is not going to stunt your growth. That for the most part has already been pre-determined by your parents genes. So you can pretty much gurantee you will be in the range of what your parents are. Depending on who had that dominant gene, your father or mother. No KIDS should be dieting at all. This is a very important time of your development stages for bone growth and thickness, as well as everything else. The most important thing for you is to be active. The number one problem with our society now is computers. Kids are not active anymore, therefore they eat the same while not doing anything. I am not saying you need to go out for all your schools sports, but be active every day. Without getting to specific it sounds like you are doing a good job eating, just get active and you will be healthy and fit. It takes time but you will be a much happier person in the long run as well not to mention confident.

Answer 4

Although you do not have any control over how tall you will be, you can have some control over how much you will weigh. Kenny below says that kids should not diet, well I disagree if it is done properly. You can eat a healthy diet that is low on trans fats and sugars and in fact, starting to eat better while you are long will help you make it a way of life. Continue exercising and eating healthy, you are on the right track. Talk to your doctor with your parents and ask him/her to help you set up a proper nutrition plan for you so that you and your parents are assured that you are getting the nutrients you need to be healthy. GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 5

You cannot "stunt your growth" with the diet you were following. Children in starving nations suffer from stunted growth, you were getting enough nutrition or you would have had a whole bunch of other health problems. And by the way, you cannot choose what height you want to be, its in your genes and there's nothing you can do to alter it regardless of what you do or don't eat. Be healthy, be happy and enjoy the wholesome foods that you are eating.

Answer 6

Nothing is going to stunt your growth and you can't plan how tall you're going to be. 5'7'' is a good height. You're still young so you may gain another inch or two in your growing process. It's great that you're so active. Just keep up your good diet by eating lots of lean protien (ie. chicken, turkey, tuna), veggies, fruit and whole grain. A good tip after a work out is to drink a protien shake or eat a pc. of toast w/ peanut butter. It will help restore the protien in your muscles.

Answer 7

i am sixteen and actually you'll be able to seem like a discusting annerexic woman if u do this a lot if u consider self contious the nice factor to do is begin within the morning three eggs and lunch deliver a wholewheat sandwhich with etus and turkey and cheese and while you come residence have an apple or fruit and a pitcher of water and dinner do just it healthful fowl works however do not consume after 7 b/c probabilities are u may not burn them off. so much importantly get off ur butt nd excercise for quarter-hour an afternoon the hot button is burning extra energy than u eat

Answer 8

well weight lifting is said to stunt your growth. It is good that you eat a lot of real food, you are eating right. You might only grow to 5'7'' you never know

Answer 9

I say most kids grow til their 18'ish...everyone is different. You'll continue to grow slowly up and out. Just eat health and exercise at a normal pace. Don't go excessive! Balance is the answer to life. You'll be as tall as God intended no matter what you do...don't worry! Be healthy! I grew taller even in to my 20's.

Answer 10

All I can say is no matter what your "goal" height is, you will only be as tall as you end up. There's no trick to that. :)