Carrie Wiatt
Biography

	Why have a diet for teens girls only? What if I think my daughter has an eating disorder? How can I help my daughter say no to junk food? What about weight loss "aids" for teens? When my daughter wants a soda should it be a diet soda?

Teen girls need good, healthy information about weight control -- not fads, not unrealistic body images. Carrie Wiatt offers the sound advice nutrition-wise moms want their daughters to know in her new book, "The Diet For Teenagers Only." Carrie was our guest on June 21, 2005.

If you have questions about your health, you should consult your personal physician. This event is meant for informational purposes only.

MODERATOR:
Welcome to WebMD Live, Carrie. Thank you for joining us today. Why have a diet for teens only?

WIATT:
It's a very special time in their lives where they have the largest growth spurt coupled with puberty for the girls. So this is a very special diet for teenagers going through this time in their life.

MODERATOR:
How can we expect our teens to have realistic expectations for themselves about their bodies when they are under assault by the media? Having Paris Hilton flash in front of you with a hamburger bigger than her body doesn't exactly send a healthy message.

WIATT:
Advertisers' jobs are to seduce our children and our teenagers -- it's their top market. There are 10,000 commercials a year on a children's show. They are being bombarded.

What they need is to have somebody, a sane person, like their parents or a responsible girlfriend, teachers and nutritionists, get good information out there on what they should look for and what is realistic for them. It's education, obviously -- not believe everything you see because there are very few people in the world that actually look like Paris Hilton.

MODERATOR:
Parents can really help by providing information and support, and yet this is a time of life when teens often rebel against anything that Mom says.

WIATT:
This is why I wrote the book. This book speaks directly to the teenager on a level they understand. The authors have been there - they have gone through teenage years themselves.

The results are incredible when they follow this meal plan and learn that they are not alone, but this is the most vulnerable time in their life. It's specifically designed for them, so this is something they can use as a guide for them through this difficult time.

"Approximately 80% of young girls believe they are overweight. They are dissatisfied with their bodies and are on a diet."

MODERATOR:
What is the basis for the seven-day meal plan?

WIATT:
I designed the meal plan for seven days for those teenagers who need to lose some weight. First I asked them to check their BMI before they start the diet -- it's a simple formula in the book. Then they go through seven days of meal plans that they can either cook or get the foods from the market. We also give guidelines for everything from a school cafeteria to restaurants. They're simple, easy-to-make foods that are packed with nutrient-dense calories.

This diet plan is very specific for teenagers because they build 90% of their bones by the time they are 17 years old, so calcium is a major component of this diet. Drinking low-fat milk, having low-fat cheese, yogurt, etc. is key to building bones and burning fat.

Another important mineral is iron. Iron builds the red blood cells, so that means lean protein are important, like chicken breast, turkey and eggs, but mostly lean meats.

Complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, are also important. They are the exclusive fuel for your brain -- period. Carbs are NOT bad -- it's how much we eat of them that gets us into trouble. It's all about portion control. In other words, how much you eat is as important as what you eat.

There is fiber in the diet. There have been studies that fiber can lower the risk of breast cancer and especially for teens in puberty can create a lower risk factor for cancer in later life.

Teenagers also have to realize, not just the bones and the extra body fat, but eating too many calories or being overweight is dangerous because, just like adults, they can get diabetes, which we are seeing now at an alarming high rate. Teens should know that heart disease starts when you are young and gall bladder disease, respiratory problems and high blood pressure are not just diseases for adults.

MODERATOR:
How many of our teens think they are fat compared to how many are really overweight?

WIATT:
Approximately 80% of young girls believe they are overweight. They are dissatisfied with their bodies and are on a diet.

The opinions expressed herein are the guests' alone and have not been reviewed by a WebMD physician.