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Expert Q&A
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| By Eve Eliot Eating Disorder Expert | ||
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Should a 15-year-old take diet pills to lose weight?
Diet pills are not a good solution. Because when someone of only 15 resorts to pills to solve a problem involving appetite, and the use of the will, there is not adequate development of the will for use later in life. One's will supports the making of wise choices.
What I would suggest is that your daughter's weight loss be a side effect of your daughter making better choices as a result of her liking herself more. If people like themselves, they make loving choices, which are aligned with their best intentions for themselves.
I would recommend that your daughter make a list of at least 15 things she likes about herself, and a list of about 15 things she likes about her life. Each day, she needs to remind herself of what is positive about herself and about her life. When a person starts the day feeling good, good choices come naturally. Good choices include fruits and vegetables and less bread than is usually included in our normal American diets.
It is not hard to lose weight if one eats their normal diet, excluding the cake, pie, milkshakes, candy and bread. Even cheeseburgers and other rich foods can be enjoyed, if they are eaten without the bun. There is no reason for your daughter to take diet pills.
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More Answers by this Expert
- My very thin 10-year-old has started saying she's fat and wants to go on a low-calorie diet. I know she's hearing this at school. What should I do?
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