Sound Off: Should Teens Go On Diets?
Trying to look like skinny-mini celebs like Keira Knightley and Kate Bosworth can be pretty a daunting task for any teen. But dieting to look like them can be dangerous -- and ineffective. That's what a new study from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis indicates.
The study followed the eating habits of more than 2,500 teens over five years. Researchers found that teens who dieted were also six times more likely to develop an eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia than teens who didn't diet. While that statistic may not surprise you, here's one that definitely will: teens who diet are three times more likely to be heavier in the future than those who don't diet.
But despite the facts, teens continue to go on fad diets. In fact, 58 percent of girls and 31 percent of guys in the study participated in some form of unhealthy weight-control practice. Scary stuff!
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