The Wrong Way to Diet

Teenage girls who think they need to lose weight aren't getting the message that exercise and healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products are the keys to good weight management, according to researchers writing in 2004 in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Instead, researchers found, teen girls try to lose pounds by fasting, skipping meals, smoking or using medications such as laxatives or diet pills. These methods put them at risk for deficiencies in calcium and iron.