Is 16 too young to ask my pediatrician to help me lose weight?

[Anonymous]

Growing up, I was told not to worry about losing weight until I was older because dieting, for example, can stint your growth. But I'm sixteen now, uncomfortable in my body, and I'm already the size of an adult. Am I still too young to ask my ped to help me lose weight?

Updates

+1 y

I'm not fat, however... I just have almost literally a FEW extra pounds. I probably have only about 20 lbs. of fat on me. I'm mostly muscle.

[aamy811]

You can ask to lose weight at any age. I've been trying to lose weight since I was 12. And have only been unhealthy about it once. Besides that every doctor encourages you to eat healthy and exercise

[Jadekitten]

Dieting stunts your growth? But no, you're never too young to be healthy.

[Asker]

Supposedly... That's what my ped said, or something like that... "Your body is still growing. It needs lots of nutrients to grow and you don't want to deprive yourself of them with dieting." Something along those lines...

[Jadekitten]

If you eat crap or starve yourself then that probably won't help you grow, but dieting - if done correctly - should be healthy. Your main goal should be to eat good amounts of healthy (or at least relatively healthy) foods and exercise regularly. A lot of people get obsessed with fad diets that ultimately don't work, or they do work but as soon as they stop dieting they gain it all back. Becoming a healthy weight isn't so much about dieting, its about changing your life style, which may include eating less and/or eating healthier (:

[kroein]

take charge of your body and how you would like to appear! you would know best and there is nothing wrong withas king. your ped will let you know what he/she feels from a professional perspective.

[Actually16]

20 lbs of fat is too much. Just exercise and watch what you eat. No soda or simple carbs like white bread or chips and candy. Eat more vegetables and fruits and only drink water and iced tea

[Jaydog666]

If your not obese dont worrry about it to much but I would recommend getting fitter and eatting healthy.

[523206720]

I don't think its a good idea to build muscle too young but if you want to lose body fat - you are welcome to do that - light exercise is fine. Try jogging / running.

[Asker]

The more muscle you have, the more energy your body uses, so building muscle is very helpful when you're trying to lose weight.

[523206720]

I know but if a boy does it too much it could stunt his growth.

[Asker]

Because it shifts how their testosterone is being used. Girls have a practically nonexistent level of testosterone.

[523206720]

I'm not a medical expert but I just assume it would work the same way for woman.

[kittyd7015]

u shud ask tehm its never to young to be healthy hun xxx

[Klaatu51]

not young... u could do it at any age i guess LOL

[justanothergager]

yes. lose weight.

[Anonymous]

yeah it is.