When slimming becomes an issue for teenage girls

Aug 20, 2001

PARENTS, do you know that in an effort to lose weight, your daughter could be in danger of taking drugs that are potentially addictive?

By Grace Canada PARENTS, do you know that in an effort to lose weight, your daughter could be in danger of taking drugs that are potentially addictive? I receive phone calls and letters from teenagers who desperately want to lose weight, and will go to any length to achieve their purpose. For example, 16-year-old Miriam writes: “I am growing fat, yet I do not want to grow too fat. I have tried to exercise but I still have a problem with my tummy, it is big. Tell me what to do. I hear there is slimming tea, and tablets that can help me lose weight. Would you please tell me where I can find them, and how much they cost?” For teenagers who want to lose weight it is important for you to realise that many preparations for the purpose of losing weight contain chemicals that may have extremely harmful side effects. Some of these are malnutrition, addiction, madness, psychological and sociological problems. All these problems eventually affect academic performance. Some of the most common drugs used are amphetamines. An amphetamine is a drug that stimulates the central nervous system. Amphetamines also suppress appetite and give the user feelings of energy. They are often sold to unsuspecting people who are trying to lose weight, who are not informed of the side effects. l Since amphetamines decrease appetite, they can also result in malnutrition. The user will most likely not get enough vital nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, starch foods, and protein. In addition, they may lose a dangerous amount of weight, making the heart muscles thin and weak. Immediate side effects l Increased talkativeness, aggressiveness, breathing rate, blood pressure. Reduced appetite, dilated pupils, visual hallucination (seeing things that are not there), auditory hallucinations (hearing voices). l Effect of large doses include fever, sweating, dry mouth, headache, paleness, blurred vision, dizziness, irregular heart beat, tremors, loss of co-ordination. Death may occur due to burst blood vessels in the brain and heart failure. When a person stops using amphetamines they may experience strong hunger frequently and are likely to consume large amounts of food. Therefore they may end up putting on even more weight. Use of amphetamines or other drugs for losing weight is neither safe nor effective. If your child has a weight or any other problem, take time to listen to them. Do not ignore or brush off the child’s concerns. Some problems need parental involvement and guidance in order to be solved effectively. Weight is one of them. Encourage your child to stop eating fatty sugary foods and beverages. Include plenty of vegetables and fruit in the family diet. And help the child to set up a regular exercise programme that is workable. patience is necessary. It may take a bit of time for the child to achieve the desired weight, but the effort is worth it.

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