Are Teenage Girls Weight Watching or Diet Pill Popping?

A recent study by the University of Minnesota's "Project EAT" (Eating Among Teens) program found that the use of diet pills among teenage girls has almost doubled, from 7.5 percent to 14.2 percent, within a five-year span. According to the study, "By the ages of 19 and 20, 20 percent of females surveyed used diet pills." Although the researchers didn't ask the teens the name or type of pill ingested, the act of using such drugs without a physician's approval is dangerous. Abusing laxatives, appetite suppressants, or other stimulants (whether they be over-the-counter or prescription drugs) can lead to illness (such as dehydration, nervousness, paranoia, addiction, high-blood pressure, heart attack, seizure, and so forth) or death.

It's important to teach all youth about the dangers of substance abuse, even if the substances are seemingly harmless. Because image-consciousness and obesity are prevalent issues in today's society, some people believe that diet drugs can't be abused. However, one in five youth have abused prescription stimulants. While diet pills may be prescribed by doctors, they do so with care, out of necessity, and with a watchful eye. Moreover, nonprescription diet supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and can only be banned if the FDA can prove that the drug is dangerous. Therefore, the scientific efficacy of the supplement may not be reviewed by any governmental or scientific agency. Recent history shows us that the use of diet supplements and the abuse of diet pills can be both harmful and deadly. (There are also a plethora of illegal drugs that are stimulants, which reduce appetite and accelerate one's heart rate, and can be addictive and lethal.)

You can help prevent teen abuse of prescription and nonprescription diet pills and stimulants. Speak with youth about the dangers posed by these drugs, and help them identify safe and sound methods to achieve a positive and healthy body image. Not only are diet pills dangerous, but researchers found that diet pills failed to aid teens in their weight-loss goals. These substances are dangerous, can be useless, and not something teens should take.

Comments

[Di]

By offering more prevention lifestyle programs in schools we could see a decrease in this problem. Prevention and education often help to make healthy decisions.

Great article....di
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[fat losing exercise]

Great article, and I agree with Di.

Education is way to go. And if the fashion industry can lead the way and encourage more models to put on more weight (like the Cindy Crawford's of the world), young girls will not be pressured to to follow the route of being overly skinny!