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</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Should I Go on a Diet?</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><p><em>Should I go on a diet? Some people say I could lose weight, other people say I look good the way I am. But my best friend is always talking about her big hips and she’s a size smaller than me! What should I do?<br /></em>– <em>Evie*</em></p><p>Friends, family, and even society can influence the way we see our bodies, leaving lots of people wondering if they should diet. But not all teens who diet actually need to lose weight. In fact, a constant focus on weight and dieting may lead to <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/eat-disorder.html">eating disorders</a> like anorexia and bulimia.</p><p>The best thing to do if you have a question about dieting is to see your doctor. He or she can help you determine what's a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/weight-tips.html">healthy weight</a> for you. If needed, your doctor can refer you to a dietitian, who can design a healthy eating program that works for you.</p><p>Even without your doctor, you can make smart food choices that keep you healthy. Substituting healthy foods for not-so-healthy ones and eating regular-sized <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/portion-size.html">portions</a> is a good start. Regular <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/exercise-wise.html">exercise</a> can make you look and feel even better and help you maintain a healthy weight.</p><p>Lifestyle changes like these can have lasting results — unlike the temporary results from going on a diet.</p><p><em>*Names have been changed to protect user privacy.</em></p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: March 2022</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/detox-diets.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Are Detox Diets Safe?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/healthy-weight.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Staying at a Healthy Weight</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/dieting.html?WT.ac=t-ra">The Deal With Diets</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/weight-tips.html?WT.ac=t-ra">5 Ways to Reach a Healthy Weight</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/easy-exercises.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Easy Exercises for Teens</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/breakfast-sheet.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Breakfast on the Go</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/weight-height.html?WT.ac=t-ra">What's the Right Weight for My Height?</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/bmi.html?WT.ac=t-ra">Body Mass Index (BMI)</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/diet-query.html?view=ptr&WT.ac=t-ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/diet-query.html?view=emailto&WT.ac=s2af-en-teens-diet-query.html" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,8,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. 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