You are here: Home » Diet and Fat Loss » Tollie’s Teen Weight Loss and Diet Quick Facts

Tollie’s Teen Weight Loss and Diet Quick Facts

Dreamer | Jun 23, 2009 | 0 comments

Teen weight loss and diet are sometimes derailed by mis-information or even worse, information overload. So, here are some weight loss and diet quick facts for all teens.

Peel away the fat: Make that two apples a day, UCLA researchers discovered that small differences in fruit and fiber intake can dictate whether teenagers are overweight. In the study, normal-weight teenagers reported eating, on average, two servings of fruit and 12 grams (g) of fiber a day; those who were overweight had just one serving and 9 g. Credit that extra 3g fiber the amount in one apple or orange, as the difference maker. Fiber slows digestion and enhances satiety, says study author Beth Gillham, Ph.D., R.D.

The High Price of Heft: Lower your BMI now, or you may sport some new hip hardware later, Norwegian researchers recently found that overweight teen men are more likely to experience joint corrosion than their older, equally heavy counterparts. Overall, the study shows that having a BMI greater than 25 more than doubles your risk of a future hip replacement, regardless of your age. Blame osteoarthritis, which causes cartilage to degenerate over time. The scientists speculate that the risk proves more significant in teens hips than old because cartilage may be more vulnerable to damage in your 20′s and 30′s than in your 40′s and 50′s. To lower your risk, increase your dietary calcium intake to 1,200 milligrams (mg) daily, an amount that helps speed weight loss. Add a zero to the calcium percentage on a food’s Nutrition Facts label to calculate what you’re eating in milligrams.

Can the Energy Drinks: Is your diet leaving you sluggish? Make sure you opt for a sugar-free-pick-me-up. New Zealand scientists discovered that many popular teen energy drinks are worse for your gut than soda is, despite claiming to boost your metabolism. Why? They’re often packed with sugar. The researchers observed that downing an energy drink containing 80 mg caffeine and 24 g sugar, about the amount in an 8.3-ounce can of Red Bull completely inhibited people’s ability to burn fat. While caffeine does help speed metabolism, combining it with sugar negates its short-term fat-burning benefits, says lead author Elaine Rush, Ph.D.

The Food Court: The Crime: 1,070 Calories in a bacon-and-cheese potato, large chili, and large Coke from Wendy’s. The Punishment: 4 That’s the number of times you’d have to run across the Golden Gate Bridge to burn 1,070 calories. It’s 1.7 miles long.

Lose The Spare Tire: Six-pack abs aren’t just about vanity; they’re a sign of a healthy body. That’s because the fat that settles around your belly secretes substances known as adipokines, which raise your risk of disease. In fact, the larger your midsection grows, the more dangerous it becomes. Here’s what your belly fat is producing right now. Resistin: A hormone that leads to high blood sugar, an independent risk factor for diabetes and heart disease. Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor: A substance that contributes to the formation of blood clots, which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Interleukin-6 (IL-6): A chemical that causes arterial inflammation, which can trigger pieces of plaque to break off arterial walls and block the flow of blood to your heart. Angiotensin: A compound that raises blood pressure. Adiponectin: An anti-inflammatory compound that helps counteract the effects of IL-6. Unfortunately, as your fat cells grow larger, the amount of adiponectin they secrete actually decreases.