| Welcome! This page on the MDA website spotlights childhood
health and nutrition. We will be offering tips for both parents and health
professionals. Thanks for visiting, and for helping MDA give ALL children
a healthier future!
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TEEN DIETING
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Tips for Parents
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| Today's media is filled with photos of idealistic role models. Extremely thin celebrities and models fill
the pages of our books and magazines as well as the television. The average American woman is 5’4" tall and
weighs 140 pounds. The average American model is 5’11" tall and weighs 117 pounds. It is understandable why teens
and even children are turning to excessive dieting and detrimental behaviors to lose weight. One study showed
that 42% of 1st-3rd grade girls want to be thinner. Read the tips below for healthy weight loss ideas and
warning signs of excessive or detrimental behaviors:
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- Body image and self-esteem are very important. If you or your teen thinks that weight loss is
needed, remember to be positive and encourage healthy behaviors such as avoiding junk food,
eating more fruits and vegetables, and exercising more often. Reinforce that extreme dieting or
fasting is not a healthy option for weight loss.
- Seek a doctor or registered dietitian that is trained to work with teens and weight loss.
They will be able to advise you on your teen’s nutritional status and make meal and exercise plans,
if necessary.
- Signs of unhealthy eating behaviors to watch for with your teen include extreme diets,
fasting and skipping meals, throwing up, diet pills, and using laxatives. If your child is
exhibiting any of these behaviors, you should talk to a doctor or school counselor about getting
some help for your teen.
- Discourage skipping of meals. Let your child know that skipping meals can lead to lowered
blood sugar and increased hunger later in the day, which can lead to binge eating. Additionally,
research has indicated that people who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight than those
who do eat breakfast.
- Set a positive example at home by eating 3 meals every day. Plan ahead for meals when schedules
are going to be hectic by having quick and easy healthy foods prepared ahead of time. Include your
teens and children in the food preparation and shopping to make healthy foods more accessible.
Some examples could include fresh fruits and veggies, breakfast bars, string cheese, and sandwich
fixings.
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Tips for Health Professionals
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- It is important for health care professionals to focus upon long-term as well as short-term
outcomes, while working with the patient’s goals. This is often difficult because patients are
usually looking for the “quick fix” to their weight management problems. Reinforce that being
healthier is a lifestyle change and weight loss will not happen overnight.
- If teens with eating disorders are referred to counseling, a registered dietitian’s role in
the multidisciplinary team is to assess the nutritional status, knowledge base, motivation and
current eating/behavioral status of the patient. They will then develop the nutrition section of
the treatment plan, implement it, and support the patient throughout the course of treatment.
- References:
American Dietetic Association website and
Teen Dieting and Risky Behavior.
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References/Links
Obesity Evaluation and Treatment: Expert Committee Recommendations-
an article from PEDIATRICS Vol. 102 No. 3 September 1998.
Michigan Department of Community Health
National Institute on Child Health and Human Development
US Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control
United Dairy Industry of Michigan.
UDIM is the umbrella organization for the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council of Michigan.
National Dairy Council.
Visit the Health Professionals link for the 3-A-Day campaign, Nutrition Library,
Newer Knowledge of Dairy Foods, Statements, and Consumer Education materials.
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