Any teenager can tell you: Go through any supermarket checkout line, you’ve got a good chance of seeing a tabloid photo of a female star in a bathing suit. Chances are also good that you’ll read a headline pointing out which stars have gotten too fat and the secret to their diet or workout plan.

Or do a web search about getting thin. Here are some of the hits you’ll get:

“I Can Make You Thin”

“This Diet Will Work”

“Think U Can’t Lose Weight?”

“20 Lbs In Only 10 Days”

The list goes on.  There’s nothing inherently wrong with trying to be thin as a weight-conscious teenager. It’s trying TOO hard and doing it in unhealthy ways that can be a problem.

Lots of people — especially women — spend a lot of time and energy and worry trying to be thin. For models, actresses and pop stars, being thin is often a top priority. The overwhelming message in the media is that thin is in, overweight is out.

But trying to be thin in unhealthy ways can be bad for your body. If you skip meals, take diet pills, try fad diets, or smoke, then it’s time to take a closer look at what you’re doing.

Here are some dieting dangers:

• Extremely low-calorie diets. Teenagers need a healthy diet with a wide variety of foods in order to grow and stay healthy.

• No-fat diets. Everyone needs a certain amount of fat in their diet — up to 30 percent of total calories. Fat is an important part of the diet and the body needs it for lots of things! Diets that restrict certain food groups. A “no bread or pasta” diet will deprive you of essential vitamins and minerals. In fact, it is the carbs in our diet that give us energy.