Unhealthy Diets for Teens

Teens often choose to eat unhealthy foods because they are quick, readily available and cheap. These poor choices, however, can have adverse effects on teen development and growth. Teens who choose unhealthy diets are at risk for future health problems, such as type-2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.

Limiting Calorie Intake

Avoiding meals to limit calories can be detrimental to a teenager's health, resulting in a lack of energy and nutrients, and possibly causing an eating disorder. Anorexia, bulimia, binge-eating and food phobias can all occur from caloric restriction. In addition to missing meals, teens may restrict their calories by self-induced vomiting, using laxatives or doing excessive exercise. Symptoms of an eating disorder include depression, anxiety and mental health problems. If an an eating disorder is suspected, a specialist should be consulted.

Weight-loss Pills

Teens that are unhappy with their appearance may use over-the-counter diet pills to lose weight. These supplements may appear to work, but they generally eliminate water retention in the body, not fat. Some of these supplements have no ingredients listed on the label or they have not been subjected to known scientific studies, so they are considered risky.

Liquid Detox Diets

Liquid-only detox diets claim to cleanse the body of toxins and cause weight loss. These extreme diets may consist of drinking only water, or only tea, or only lemonade or even only syrup for days at a time. Following a regimen like this can harm a teen's body. Vitamins and minerals are needed to support growth and development, and some of these nutrients must be attained through food consumption. Proteins contains essential amino acids that can only be obtained from eating food. They support the growth of teens and help repair muscle tissue.

Food Group Diets

Teenagers are growing and need to eat from a variety of food groups. Diets that restrict carbohydrates, protein or fat can affect teenage development. Complex carbohydrates, such as dry beans, brown rice, whole wheat bread and grains, contain essential vitamins and minerals and should not be left out of the diet. Similarly, diets that promote heavy meat eating and restrict vegetables or fruit are not healthy; they are high in saturated fats, which can contribute to heart problems. A well-rounded diet that includes all the food groups is best.