Understanding Weight Loss Programs: A Teen Eating Disorder Prevention Book ppt

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UnderstandingWeightLossPrograms
ATeenEatingDisorderPreventionBook
JudyMonroe
TheRosenPublishingGroup,Inc./NewYork
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Publishedin1999byTheRosenPublishingGroup,Inc.
29East21stStreet,NewYork,NY10010
Copyright©1999byJudyMonroe
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformwithoutpermissioninwritingfromthepublisher,exceptbyareviewer.
LibraryofCongressCatalogingin
PublicationData
Monroe,Judy.
UnderstandingWeightLossPrograms/JudyMonroe.
p.cm.—(Ateeneatingdisorderpreventionbook)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Summary:Discussestheweightlossindustryincluding
whythisbusinessisthriving,themanyproductsandser
vicesoffered,andtheprosandconsofvariousweightloss
methods.
ISBN0823928667
1.Weightloss—Juvenileliterature.2.Reducingdiets—
Juvenileliterature.3.Eatingdisorders—Juvenileliterature.
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4.Eatingdisordersinadolescence—Juvenileliterature.[1.

Weightloss.2.Reducingdiets.3.Eatingdisorders.]1.
Title.II.Title:Understandingweightlossprograms.III.

Series.
RM222.2M5631999
613.7—dc21
9923313
CIP
ManufacturedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
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AboutTheAuthor
JudyMonroe,M.A.,M.P.H.,haswrittennumerousbooksandmagazinearticlesforteensonhealthissues.
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Contents
Introduction
1
1
TheWeightLossIndustry
6
2
TheQuesttoLoseWeight
21
3
CommercialWeightLossPrograms
31
4
BogusWeightLossProducts
49
5
WhyDietPlansandProgramsDon'tWork

80
6
Consequences
95
7
What'sRightforMe?
114
Glossary
134
WheretoGoforHelp
136
ForFurtherReading
141
Index
143
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Introduction
Moremoneygonetowaste,"Maidasighed,tossingthebookshewasreadingontothefloor."Youknow,I'vereadatleasteightdifferentdietbooksand
triedjustabouteveryoneoftheirdiets—andnotoneofthemhasworked.Andlookatyou!Imean,you'reskinnyasarail!Whatexactlyareyoudoing?"
Jennylaughed."Well,ittookmeafewtriestofindsomething.RememberthatrubbersuitIhadforawhile?"
"Yeah,"Maidasmiled."Thatwasthecraziestthing!"
"Itwassupposedto'meltawaythepounds,'"Jennysaid."ButallIgotoutofitwasanastyrash.HowwasItoknowIwasallergictowhateverwasinthat
thing?"
"Butyoufoundsomething?"Maidaasked.
Jennypulledasmallboxoutofherjeanspocket."Here'swhatIfound.Thesepillsdothetrickforme.Igetthematthedrugstore.
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Idon'tevenneedaprescriptionforthem."
"Whatarethose?Dietpills?"Maidaasked.

"Yes,"Jennyreplied.
"Butdon'ttheycauseproblems?Iheardthey'renotgood."
"C'mon,Maida.Howbadcouldtheybe?Besides,wouldyouratherbefat?"
Maidalookedatthepillsandshruggedhershoulders.Shepickedupacolorfulbrochurefromthefloornexttoherandwaveditintheair."Hey,Jen!Listen
tothis!"Maidaexclaimed."YouknowwhatI'mgonnatrynext?There'sthisweightlosscenterdownatthestripmall.I'vebeenreadingtheirad.It'sgot
simplyeverything!Theirweightlossprogramsounds
fabulous!"
ConfusingWeightLossClaims
MaidaandJennyarelookingforaquickandeasywaytoloseweight.Soareanestimated65millionotherAmericans.Theyhavetriedmanydifferentwaystoreach
theirgoal.Some,likeMaida,optforcommercialweightlossprograms,books,tapes,orvideos.Jennyhastriedweightlossgadgetsandgizmos.Dietpills,powders,
orliquidsappealtoothers.
Tryingtosortthroughalltheweightlossclaimscanbeconfusingandcostly.Manyareoftenmisleading,unproven,orjustplainfalse.Butmostpeopleareseldom
armedwithfactsaboutweightlossclaims.Theywouldfindithardtoanswerthesequestions:
Howdoyoudeterminewhichweightlossprogramorplanisbestforyou?
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Doanyofthemwork?Newdietsseemtopopupeveryweek.
Doanyoftheweightlosspills,liquids,gadgets,andcreamsreallywork?
Arethereanysafewaystoloseweightandkeepitoffpermanently?
Promises,Promises
Whilemanyweight
lossprograms,diets,andgizmoslurepeoplewiththepromiseofaslim,attractivebody,theresultsseldommeasureup.Mostarenotsuccessful.In
fact,theFederalTradeCommission(FTC)saysthis:Whilesomepeoplewilltakeoffweightbyusingweightlossprogramsandproducts,few—perhaps5percent—
willmanagetokeepallofitoffinthelongrun.
Accordingtomedicalresearch,ninetypercentofalldietersregainsomeoralloftheweightoriginallylost.Atleastonethirdgainmore.Anincreasingamountof
researchhasconfirmedthesefailurerates.Researchalsohasfoundthatgeneticandphysiologicalfactorsplayimportantrolesindeterminingbodysize.
SomepeoplelikeMaidaandJennydonotneedtoloseweight.Bothteensareatahealthyweightfortheirheightandbodyshape.Yet,likemanyAmericanteens,they
thinktheyneedtobethin.Theyobsessaboutbeingthinbecausethinnessseemstoequalsuccess,popularity,andhappiness.
Theirbeautyidealsareeverywhere:ultrathinfashionmodels,beautypageantwinners,andTVand
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moviestars.However,thesewomengenerallydonothavetypicalorevenhealthyfemalefigures.Nomatterhowhardtheytry,thevastmajorityoffemaleswillnever
beabletomoldtheirbodiestoamodel'sdimensions.
DietingHarm
AccordingtoFrancesM.Berg,editorofHealthyWeightJournal,weightissueshavebecomeanobsessionintheUnitedStates.Inherbook,AfraidtoEat,she
givessomealarmingstatisticsaboutthisobsession:
Morethantwothirdsofhighschoolgirlsaredieting.
Twentyfivepercentofhighschoolboysaredieting.
Twentypercentofhighschoolgirlstakedietpills.
Morethan50percentofteengirlsareundernourished.
Manyfemaleandmaleteensareusinglaxatives,diuretics,fasting,andvomitingtoslimdown.
Thequesttobethincansometimesleadtoseriousphysicalandpsychologicalconsequencesandproblems.About10percentofteensintheUnitedStates,mostly
females,sufferfromharmfuleatingdisorders.Someonewhosuffersfromaneatingdisorderconstantlythinksaboutfood,weight,and
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dieting.Family,friends,hobbies,andhealthyactivitiesfadeinimportance.Aneatingdisordercanleadtoseriousphysicalandmentalhealthproblemsandcaneven
causedeath.
WhatYouWillFindinThisBook
Thisbookwillexploretheweightlossindustry,including:
Whythishugebusinessisbooming
Itsmanyproductsandservices
Theprosandconsofvariousweightlossmethods
Itwillprovideyouwiththefactsbehindtheappealingweightlossclaimssothatyoucanmakewisechoices.Inaddition,youwilllearnhowtospotandavoidoutright
scamsandfakeproductsandservices.
Youwilllearnabouttheunhealthyaspectsofdietingandwillbeencouragedtoconsiderthoroughlythecostsandconsequencesofthedietingdecisionsyoumake.You
willfindoutthatthereisnosetweightforeachperson,butthatthereareguidelinesonlookinggoodandfeelinggoodaboutyourself.Thisbookexploreswhata
healthyweightis,andwhatahealthyweightmeansforyou.
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1

TheWeightLossIndustry
Maihastrieddozensofdiets.Shesays,''OnceIwentona400calorieadayliquiddiet.Oneofmyfriendshadreadaboutitinamagazine,sowetriedit.I
wassohungryaftertwodaysthatIstartedshovelingeverythingIcouldintomymouthuntilIthoughtI'dexplode.''
Mai'smostpainfuldietwasanall
fruitprogram."IateorangesandgrapefruitsuntilIhadsoresinmymouth,"sherecalled.Overtheyears,she'scollected
twoshelvesofdietbooks.Eachonepromisesasurefireplanforsheddingextrapounds.ButnothingMaihastriedhaseverledtopermanentweightloss.
Everyyear,millionsofteenslikeMaigoondietstomeetsomegoalofbeingthin.Somediettobemorepopularwithpeersortheoppositesex.Somedoittoimprove
theirathleticabilitiesortomeetweightrequirementsforasport.Othersdiettoprovethattheyareincontroloftheirownlife.
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Dietingwillhelpsometeenslose,butnotinthewaythattheyhope.Mostteensdon'tneedtodietinthefirstplace,becausetheyarenotoverweight.Eveniftheydiet,
mostwon'tlosetheweighttheywantto—atleastnotforthelongrun.Dietinghasproventobeoneoftheworstwaystogetyourbodyinshape.Itcanleadtoan
endlesscycleofdieting,losingweight,endingadiet,gainingweightback,feelingfrustratedandangry—anddietingagain.
Thispatternproducesmanynegativeresults.Dietinginterfereswithnormalmetabolism,ortherateatwhichthebodyburnsfood.Itsetsupanunhealthyattitude
towardeating,whichcanleadtodepression,anxiety,andothermentalhealthproblems.Anditdoesn'tgiveyouwhatyouwant—apermanentlythinbody.
ABigBusiness
Eachday,approximately65millionAmericansaredieting.Thatmeansoneoutofeverytwoadultsisonadietatanygiventime.Althoughmostdietersarefemale
teensandadults,moreandmoreteenandadultmalesaretryingtoloseweight.
Manydietersthinkthattheyneedtobuysomething—dietproducts,plans,ormembershipinaprogram—toloseweight.Theyhavemanyoptionsfromwhichto
choose.Theserangefromselfhelpbooks,tocompaniesthatcombinenutritionalcounselingwiththesaleoftheirownlowcaloriefoodproducts,tomedicalproviders
whoofferacomprehensiveapproachtoweightreduction.
Over17,000dietplans,programs,andproducts
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existtoday.Newonespopupallthetime.Everhopeful,dietersarewillingtospendmoneyoverandoveragainonseeminglynew,slicklymarketeddietproductsand
programs.
Losingweightishardformostpeople.That'swhytheyoftenturntovariousweightlossmethodstohelpthemshedsomepounds.Withsomanypeopletryingtolose
weight,theweightlossindustrypullsinbigmoney.AccordingtoMarketdata,amarketresearchfirminTampa,Florida,theAmericanweightlossindustrygenerates
salesof$35billioneachyear.TheweightlossbusinessoutsidetheUnitedStatesmaybejustasprofitable.
TheLureofThin

Whyaresomanyteensbuyingintothepromiseofquick,easyweightloss?Andwhytheemphasisonthinness?InAmericabeingthiniswhat'sin.Healthexperts
reportthatfromonehalftotwothirdsofallteengirlsandnearlyonequarterofallteenboysseethemselvesasoverweight.Asaresult,manyaretryingtoloseweight
byusingvariousineffectiveandpossiblyunsafemethods.
Pressuretoloseweightandbethinisincreasing.Andtherearesomanycontributingfactors—pressurefrompeers,fromparents,andfromthemedia.Butthetruthis
thatmostteensarenotoverweight.Noraretheyfat.Medicaldoctorsfindthatlessthanoneinfiveteengirlsisactuallyoverweight.Instead,manyteenshaveunrealistic
ideasaboutahealthyweightthatworksfortheirheightandbodytype.
Thepressuretobethinisoftenlinkedwithpeerpressure.Mostteenswanttofitinandbeaccepted


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WeightLoss
Method

Description
Weightlosscentersor
commercialdiet
servicesorprograms
IncludesWeightWatchers,JennyCraig,Nutri/System,andmanyothers.
Mostcentersprovidediets.Somealsoprovidevariousproductsand
servicessuchasexerciseplans,weightlossdrugs,dietarysupplements,
books,videos,counseling,andsoon.
Dietplans Foundindietbooksandarticlesinmagazines.Therearemanydifferent
typesofplans:lowcalorie,highfat,lowfat,highcarbohydrate,low
carbohydrate,specialfoods,liquids,rawfoods,andsoon.
Drugsordiet
supplements(oftenin
theformofpills,
capsules,tablets)
Thisincludesnonprescriptiondrugssuchaslaxatives,diuretics,anddiet
supplementsthat

(boxcontinuedonnextpage)
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(boxcontinuedfrompreviouspage)
WeightLoss
Method

Description
Drugsorsupplements
(continued)
claimtospeedmetabolism,suppressappetite,orblockdigestion.Also
includesprescriptiondrugslikefenphen,herbs,fat"blockers,"andbulk
producersorfillers.
Dietdevicesand
gadgets
Appetitesuppressingeyeglasses,weightlossearrings,gum,soaps,body
wraps,breathspray,weighlossclothing,reducingcreams,andsoforth.
Exercise Passiveexercisetables,electricalmusclestimulators,excessiveexercise.
Hypnotism Individualorgroup.
Purging,vomiting,
fasting
Dangerouswaystoeliminatefood.
Surgery Gastricbypass,liposuction,tummytuck,jawwiring,gastricballoon.
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Page11
bytheirpeers.Manythinkthattheyhavetobethintobeattractiveandpopular.Notonlythat,butteensareconstantlygettingpummeledwithmessagestobethin
fromthemedia.
Karen,fifteen,saysthatteenmagazinesareabigthingwithherandherfriends."Therearealwaysarticlesonhowtobecomethinnerandsexierandhow
tobeattractivetoboys,"shesays."Everyissuehassomething—thelatestmakeup,thecoolestclothing,thehottestshoes,andlotsofotherstuff.It'slike

youkeepgettingthemessagethattogetaboyfriend,togetaboytoevennoticeyou,youneedtosmellgood,dressright,lookright,andbethinlikea
model.SometimesI'veevensentawayforthedietandweightlossproductsthatareinthemagazines.Therearelotsofthem,likeinthebackpages,inthe
mailordersection.Imean,Iwanttohaveaboyfriend—
andIknowthebestwaytoattractsomeoneistohaveafinebody.Likethin,firm,andwithasmall
waist."
Sometimesparentspressuretheirkidsabouthowtheyshouldlook.Asachild,Jolenewasshortandsolidlybuilt.Shewasn'theavy.Butherdadthoughtshewas.
Joleneremembered:
"Mydadusedtocallmefat.Allthetime.Likeajoke.Idon'tthinkhemeantittohurtme,butitsuredid.Imean,Ibarelysawhimbecauseheworkedso
much.NomatterwhatIdidtoattracthisattention,Icouldn'tseemtogethimtonoticeme.Anditwasn'tlikeIwas
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Page12
justsittingaround,vegetating—wasveryactiveasateenager,andIusedtoplaysoccer,kickball,andsoftballwiththekidsintheneighborhoodafter
schoolandontheweekends.AndIthoughtIwasokaylooking.ButDadwantedmetolook...different.Hewantedmetobebeautiful,likeamodel,and
thin.Ithinkhesawmeasakindofreflectionofhimself—themoreperfectIwas,themoreperfecthewas.AndIguessjustgottiredofit.Igottiredofhis
jokesandthewayhejustkindofignoredme,andsoonetimeIprettymuchstoppedeating.Period.Idranklotsoffruitjuice.AndIwentforthreedayslike
that,starvingmyself,beforeIgaveuponmycrazydietplan.Dad,ofcourse,nevernoticedanydifference."
Asifpeerpressureandparentalpressureweren'tenough,themediahammersthethinmessagehome.Itbombardsuswithallkindsofmessages,playinguptheimage
thatthinpeoplearehealthierandmoresuccessful,popular,andattractive.Goodthingsinlifearepicturedashappeningonlytothinpeople.Incontrast,overweight
peopleareseenaslazyorlackingselfcontrol.Teensseeandhearthesecommonmessagesconstantlyinmagazines,newspapers,advertisements,movies,and
televisionsitcoms.
Thefashionandcosmeticsindustriescontributetothebombardmentofthinimagesinthemedia.Advertisingcampaignsforfashionandbeautyproductsoftentarget
teensandpreteens.Theseindustriesknowthatthesetwogroupsspendalotoftheirparents'(andtheirown)moneyonfashion,

Page13
beauty,entertainment,andleisureproducts.Manyfashionandbodyproductspromotebodyinsecurity.Thinkofalltheadsyou'veseenthataskteenviewers:"Doyou
havepimples?""Isyourhairlimpanddoesitneedbody?""Areyouoverweight?''"Doyouhavebodyodor?''Ifyoucananswer"yes"toanyofthesequestions,then
youcanbesurethattherearelotsofproductsoutthereonthemarkettohelpyoutakecareofyour"problem"!
Aconstantstreamofadvertisingdeliversthesamemessageoverandoveragain:"Thinisin."Hearingandseeingthesamemessagerepeatedly,manypeoplestartto
believeit.Overtimethinmessagescandistortthewaymostpeopleviewthemselvesandothers.
Theissueofgoodhealthcreatesanotherpressuretobethin.Someresearcherssaythatbeingoverweightcancauseprematuredeath.InAmericaobesityrelated

disordersclaimabout300,000liveseachyear.Thisresultsinawhopping$100billioninmedicalcosts!Whenteensbuyintoanunrealisticweightorbodyimage,then
losingweightbecomesanimportant,ongoingquest.Manyturntotheweight
lossindustryforfastfixes.Thereareplentyofmethodstochoosefrom,andmostpromise
fast,easyweightlossresults.Butthepromisesseldommeasureuptothedesiredresult.
LowSuccessRates
Nomatterwhatweightlossmethodisused,mostpeoplemanagetotakeoffsomeweight.Butfewkeepallofitoffforlong.Onereasonforthelow

Page14
successrateisthatmanypeoplelookforquickandeasysolutionstoweightloss.Theyfindithardtobelievethatinthisageofscientificadvancesandmedical
miracles,aneffortlessweightlossmethoddoesn'texist.Whenoneproductorservicedoesn'tkeepweightoff,peoplerushtobuyanotherequallyuselessweightloss
itemorservice.
Whatmanypeopledon'tknowisthattheweightlossindustrylacksqualitycontrol.Thismeansthatalltoooften,noscientificevidencewhatsoeverexiststosupport
theclaimsofthevariousweightlossprogramsandproducts.Sotherealwinnersintheweightlossbusinessarethemakersandsellersofquestionableweightloss
programsandproducts.Theypocketlargeprofitsbecausepeoplecontinuetobelievethatthere'saneasywaytomeltoffthepounds.
BogusClaims
"Youreallythinkthis'llwork?"Lauraasked,pointingtothecanonthesupermarketshelf.
"Ofcourseit'llwork,"Shaunsaid,grabbingcanaftercanandloadingthemintohisshoppingcart."It'sadietshake,forcryingoutloud."
Laurascratchedherchin."Buthowcanyoubesure?"
Shaungaveheran"oh,please"sortoflook,andheldacanuptoherface.
"C'mon,Laura.Lookatthecan.Lookatthead."Heheldupacolorfulflierforhertosee."Theadsaysit'sadietshake.Aguaranteedfatburner.Andyou
know,adshavetobetrueorthemanufacturercouldn'tsaythatstuff."
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Wrong,wrong,wrong.
LikeShaun,manypeoplebelievethatweightlossproducts,gizmos,programs,orplansarescreenedortestedbymedicalprofessionals,andthatonlytheonesthat
workcanbeadvertisedandsold.
EveryyearAmericanswastehugeamountsofmoneyonbogusweightlossproductsandservices.Mostweightlossadvertisingisaimedatpeople'sfearofbeing
unattractive.Misleadingadsforweightlossproductsandservicescanbefoundinmagazines,newspapers,andmailordercatalogs,ontelevisionandradio,orvia
telemarketingandtheInternet.Theyalsoappearindrugstores,supermarkets,andhealthfoodstores.Youmayhaveseenweightlossadstackedtotelephonepollsor
slippedunderthewindshieldwipersofcarsinaparkinglot.

Someproductsaresoldbydirectmail.Weightlosssellersusesubscriberlistsfrommagazinesandothersourcestoputtogethertheirownmailinglists.Manydirect
mailadsareforweightreductionschemes.Sometimesthedirectmailadsforfakeproductslooklikeauthenticreproductionsofnewspaperarticles.Usually,though,
theyhaveneverbeenpublished.Topullinthereader,thereproductionsareaccompaniedbyahandwrittennoteinthemarginoronaPostIt.Atypicalnotemight
read,"DearLinda,Thisreallyworks!Tryit.J."
TheLaw
Whoprotectspeoplefrombogusweightlossproductsandservices?Threefederalagenciesandvariousstateandlocalagenciescanenforcelawsagainstfake

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healthproductsandservices:theFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA),theFederalTradeCommission(FTC),andtheU.S.PostalService.
Unfortunatelytheweightlossbusinessisjusttoobigforthesethreeagenciestokeeptrackofeverynewweightreductionserviceandproductthatcomesalong.
ConsumersBeware
Ingeneralthefederalgovernmentdoesn'ttest,check,orcertifymostcompaniesthatmarketweightlossprograms.Oneneedn'tbelicensed,educated,orcertifiedto
runaweightlossbusinessortomakeandsellweightlossproducts.Thesuccessofaweight
losscompanydependsmostlyonhowwellitmarketsandsellsitswares.
Whethertheprogramorproductsactuallyworkandaresafeisseldomquestioned.
Consumers,then,areprettymuchontheirownwhentryingweight
lossproductsandservices.Andthatbringsupanotherproblem.Mostpeopledon'tknowwhereto
getuseful,objectiveinformation.Theyrarelyhavereliabletoolstohelpthemsortthroughthevastarrayofweightlossoptions.
DietingDangers
Asthebellformorninghomeroomrang,JoditurnedaroundtotalktoAimee.Rightaway,shenoticedherfriend'spearlearrings."Hey,"Jodisaid,"you
gotyourearspierced!"
"Nope,"Aimeesmiled."Thesearespecial


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FederalAgency
WhattheAgencyHandles
FoodandDrug
Administration(FDA)
Stopsfalseandmisleadinglabelingoffoods,drugs,medicaldevices,and

cosmetics.(Labelingincludesboththeinformationonaproduct's
containerandpromotionalmaterials.)
FederalTrade
Commission(FTC)
Runsasmallmonitoringoperationtocatchandstopmisleadingorfake
adsforfoods,nonprescriptiondrugs,cosmetics,andservices.Hasa
veryeffectivelaw,butcanhandleonlyasmallpercentageofthefakeads
itfinds.
U.S.PostalService Hasanactiveprogramtodetectandstopthesaleofbogushealth
productsthroughthemail.Pursuescasesthatmightgeneratealarge
amountofmailorthatcouldcausephysicalharmtothepublic.

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earrings.Theydon'thaveposts,see?Magnetskeepthetwopiecesonmyearlobe."
"That'skindacool,"Jodisaid.
"Actually,"Aimeecontinued,"Iboughtthembecausethey'resupposetocontrolmyappetiteandcravings.Theadsaidthey'vebeenhelpingpeoplelose
weightforyears.AllIhavetodoiswearthemeverydayforsixtoeighthours.Andtheyonlycosttwentydollars."
"Wow!Where'dyougetthem?I'dliketotrythem!"
AimeewrotedownthenameandaddressofthecompanythatmadetheearringsonapieceofpaperandslippedittoJodi.
AimeeandJodimetupagainlaterthatday,thistimeinartclass.Rightaway,JodinoticedsomethingwrongwithAimee.Hereyeswerewatery,andher
earswereafieryred.
Jodiasked,"Aimee,areyoufeelingokay?Whyareyourearssored?"
"Itwastheearrings,"Aimeesaid."Stupidthings.Ithrewthemaway,theypinchedandhurtsobad."Aimeegiggled."ButIguesstheysortofworked 
becausewhileIwaswearingthem,thepainwassobadIcouldn'tthinkaboutanythingelse.Iguessthat'llkeepyouawayfromfood!''
Atfirstglance,theonlythingAimeelostwassomemoneyonworthlessweightlossearrings.Asidefrombeingcostly,weightlossproductscansometimesproduce
unwantedsideeffectsorcanharmthebody.LuckilyforAimee,herearsstoppedhurtingbythenextday.
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Chronicorongoingdietingcanstopteensfromgrowingtofullheightbyaffectingbonegrowth.Othernegativeeffectsofdietingincludefeelinglikeafailure,adropin
selfesteem,moodswings,fatigue,havingtroubleconcentrating,becomingeasilydistracted,andanincreasingchanceofdevelopinganeatingdisorder.

WeightRecyclingorYoYoDieting
Kennard,seventeen,wasthestarforwardonhishighschoolbasketballteam.Butwhenhebrokehislegduringpracticeatthebeginningoftheseason,he
begantogainweight.
"Ifeltsodown,"Kennardsaid,"whenmydoctortoldmeIwasabsolutelyoutfortherestoftheseason.Withoutbasketball,Iwasn'tabletogetmuch
exercise.AndbecauseIwasfeelingbad,Iwaseatingeverythinginsight.OnedayIlookedinthemirrorandthought:Wow...where'dthatbellycome
from?AndwhenIsteppedonthebathroomscale,IrealizedthatIhadputontwenty
fivepounds.SoIstarteddieting.AndwitheachdietItried,I'dgo
alongjustfinefortwoorthreeweeks.Buteachtime,thesamethinghappened.I'dloselikefivepoundsandthen,onemorning,I'dwakeupsohungrythat
I'deateverythinginsight.Ikeptlosingandgainingthesameweight."
Kennardisaweightrecycler,oryoyodieter.Weightrecycling—thecycleoflosingandregaining,losingandregaining—isgenerallytheresultoffollowingoneweight
lossplanorprogramafter

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another.Accordingtomedicalstudies,weightrecyclingincreasesthechanceofmentalandphysicalhealthproblems.Inaddition,weightrecyclingcanmakeweight
managementtougher.Repeatedlylosingandgainingweightcanleadtoaslowermetabolicrate,whichmeansthatthebodyburnscaloriesmoreslowly.Itcanalsolead
toeatingdisorders;poorselfesteem;feelingsoffailureandfrustration,andanincreasedriskofheartdiseaseandsomeformsofcancer.
Asthecyclerepeatsitself,dietersneedfewerandfewercaloriestomaintaintheirweight.Thismakesithardertoloseweight.Theendlesscycleoffailuresuccess
failurenegativelyaffectsaperson'sattitude,too,oftenreinforcingfeelingsoflowselfesteem.
TeensandtheWeightLossIndustry
Themultibilliondollarweightlossindustryhasmanyteencustomers.However,manyteensarenotrealisticabouttheirweightandseethemselvesasoverweight.Teen
girlsgenerallyusedietingastheirmainmethodtoslimdown.Teenboystendtoturntoexercise,althoughmorearedietingthesedays.
Ateen'squesttobethincanleadtotryingfaddiets,weightlossprograms,andweightreductionproducts.Thesemethodsoftenfailtotakeoffandmaintainweight
loss.Sometimestheyaredangerous.Dietingisparticularlyriskyforteensbecausetheyneedvaried,balanced,andnourishingfoodforgrowthandenergy.