BodiMojo Teen Health Blog – Teenage Nutrition, Fitness, Stress, Relationships & More

by Samantha Burns

Have you ever heard of the grapefruit and celery diet?  What about the juice fast? You’re not alone if you have tried one of these extreme fad diets in order to shed some extra pounds.  With so much emphasis in the media about childhood obesity, it may be easy for teens losing weight to slip under the radar.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for normal weight and underweight teenage girls to feel that they are overweight.  These types of teenagers may be at risk for using dangerous weight-loss techniques, such as taking laxatives or extreme dieting, which can lead to binging and purging cycles.

Janet M. Liechty, a professor of social work and medicine at the University of Illinois found that body image distortion in teens predicts the onset of unsafe weight-loss behaviors. Liechty notes that non-overweight teens who use risky dieting techniques have an increased chance of using the same methods one year later.  As a 20-something woman, I share the same opinion as Liechty because of my experiences—quick fixes and extreme weight-loss methods may cause harm in the long run.  Body image distortion can lead to low self-esteem, social-withdrawal, eating disorders, and depression.  Starting down the path of extreme dieting is not worth the long-term effects.  Although it does not come easily, I think the best approach is to learn to appreciate and admire your body for what it is.

A few of my friends who struggled with weight and body-image issues in high school are still unsatisfied with their bodies today.  They fell victim to the quick-loss hoaxes, and never made the lifestyle change necessary for weight management.  Personally, I dislike the term “dieting” because it suggests a temporary fix, rather than a sustainable life change.

I went from a three-sport varsity athlete in high school to gaining weight (in the double digits) in college.  It was very difficult for me to accept my new body and the feeling of being out of shape.  After struggling with body image issues for the majority of my college years, I was able to drop the weight by increasing my exercise and decreasing my food intake.  “Choosing a lifestyle that’s sustainable and healthy – where the fuel intake matches the output – is really the safest long-term plan for weight management,” Liechty said, and I cannot agree more!