'Extreme eating' may equal extreme problems

ALSO: Is your child overweight? VIDEO CNN's Holly Firfer reports on the habit of extreme eating among teenagers. Windows Media 28K 80K

September 3, 1999
Web posted at: 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT)

(CNN) -- Most teen-agers will tell you thin is in. But health experts say this attitude is shaping up into a dangerous trend for teens.

Young people are doing what's being called "extreme eating": leaving out entire food groups like dairy or meat from their diets in order to lose weight.

Some fad diets today include the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet; the no-sugar, no-fat diet; and the no-dairy diet.

Dietitians warn that bad eating habits in teen years can affect a person's health significantly later in life.

Teen-age years are crucial for bone growth and density. Kids between the ages of 9 and 11 should be getting 1,300 milligrams of calcium every day, or approximately four servings of dairy products.

Active young people, like teen-age boys, need about 3,000 calories and up to 100 grams of fat ever day. Not getting adequate carbohydrates or fat can cause energy levels to drop and can affect a child's ability to learn.

Experts say extreme dieting is not for kids and can lead to more serious eating disorders in the future.