Continuing with a look at the United States’ number one health problem – obesity we decided to determine what is being done to help adolescents get educated and started on healthy eating habits.  Currently, the professional literature and public media has the topic of obesity on high profile.  There are studies being published monthly on the subject in professional journals, newspapers and magazines.   

One study that caught our interest was one entitled “Obesity, Disordered Eating, and Eating Disorders in a Longitudinal Study of Adolescents:  How Do Dieters Fare 5 Years Later?”  The study was authored by Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, RD, et al and published in the April 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.  It analyzed the eating habits of 2516 adolescents. 

It has been said many times that it is easy to get the weight off, but keeping it off over a long period of time is really the healthful goal.  So how do adolescents make out with their weight management goals?  Not well.  Adolescents with unhealthy weight-control measures had a tendency to actually gain weight in the five-year period following their diets.  There was also a marked increase in the tendency for binge eating, self-induced vomiting and use of diet pills, diuretics and laxatives.  Adolescents that did not go on a self induced weight management diet actually were three times at less risk for being overweight after the five-year period.  

Looking back through the archives, we noticed a study published in USA Today in October 2003 from Harvard Medical School.  The study followed 8203 girls and 6769 boys for three years.  The researchers found that “girls who were frequent dieters gained an average of about 1.7 pounds a year more than those who never dieted and boys gained about .75 pounds a year more per year”.  

Both of these studies were done with subjects that tried self-administered diets.  The solution to this dilemma may well be seeking the input of a licensed, registered dietitian, trained in pediatric nutrition.  Hill Nutrition Associates, Inc. presents the Healthy ‘n Fit weight management program for children and teens.  This program is based on customized nutrition plans that involve both the overweight child and the family.  To learn more, call 220-8058 for a complimentary initial consultation.