Fad Diets and Adolescents: A Guide for Clinicians, Educators, Coaches and Trainers

Description

Fad diets have influenced our society for hundreds of years. While they are heterogeneous in nature, they make many of the same promises: weight loss, fat burning, muscle building, flatter stomachs, improved gut health, clearer skin, and protection of animal rights and the environment. Not only are fad diets usually ineffective, they are often highly restrictive and associated with significant health risks. Furthermore, the practice of fad dieting dramatically increases one’s risk of developing malnutrition and/or an eating disorder.   Adolescence is a period of rapid physical and socioemotional growth during which young people become more vulnerable to poor body image and low self-esteem, which may make adolescents particularly likely to adopt fad diets. However, the nutritional risk incurred could result in serious and potentially permanent impairment of physical and psychosocial development.    This book provides an overview of fad diets through the ages, highlighting what all fad diets have in common and how to recognize a fad diet.  Readers will learn what science tells us about nutritional needs during adolescence for normal physical, cognitive, and socioemotional development, and the risks that may be incurred if a fad diet prevents an adolescent from meeting these needs. This book examines why adolescents may be particularly prone to fad dieting and why they may also have more to lose if they adopt them. Readers will explore factors that shape adolescent diet culture. This book makes specific recommendations for caring adults in the lives of adolescents, including interdisciplinary health care providers, teachers, coaches, trainers, parents and other caregivers, to steer adolescents away from fad diets and towards healthier alternatives for achieving their goals.   The initial chapters are didactic chapters that outline core material. Subsequent chapters use illustrative case examples to teach the reader how to screen adolescents for fad dieting, listen to the concerns that attracted them to the diet, engage them in a discussion about their goals, and collaborate with them to find a healthier path.  All chapters conclude with discussion questions for further reflection. Acknowledgments Contents Contributors Part I: Content-Based Chapters Chapter 1: What Are Fad Diets? 1.1 Adolescent Development 1.2 Dieting in Adolescence 1.3 What Is a Fad Diet? 1.4 Dangers of Fad Dieting in Adolescence 1.4.1 Physical Risks 1.4.2 Emotional Risks 1.4.3 Social Risks 1.5 Navigating this Book References Chapter 2: A Brief History of Fad Diets and Diet Culture 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Historical Origins 2.3 Exploring Diet Culture 2.3.1 Capitalism and Profit 2.3.2 Religion 2.3.3 Weight Stigma and Racism 2.4 Who Starts Fad Diets? 2.5 Conclusion Further Reading References Chapter 3: Adolescent Diet Culture: Where Does it Originate? 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Development and Changing Bodies 3.2.1 Family 3.2.2 Peers 3.2.3 Society and Media 3.3 Conclusion References Chapter 4: An Overview of Food, Fluid, and Activity Recommendations for Adolescents 4.1 An Overview of Energy Needs of an Adolescent 4.2 Macronutrient Recommendations in Adolescence 4.3 Micronutrient Needs in Adolescence 4.4 Fluid Recommendations for Adolescents 4.5 Activity Recommendations in Adolescence 4.6 Fostering a Healthy Relationship with Exercise References Chapter 5: What Can We Do to Connect and Educate? 5.1 Behaviors which Promote Unhealthy Relationships with Nutrition 5.1.1 Maintaining Critical Hyper-Focus on Appearance 5.1.2 Making Weight-Related Comments and Judgments about Others’ Bodies 5.1.3 Categorizing “Good” and “Bad” Foods 5.2 Behaviors for Promoting Healthy Relationships with Nutrition 5.2.1 Promote Body Positivity 5.2.2 Recognize Credible Versus Inaccurate Sources of Nutrition Information 5.2.3 Encourage Accountability through Observed Meals and Exercise 5.2.4 Practice Intuitive Eating 5.2.5 Practice Balance and Moderation in your Diet 5.2.6 Recognize that Adolescents’ Nutritional Needs Are Different from Adults’ Needs 5.3 Summary References Chapter 6: Fad Diets Beyond the Western World References Chapter 7: Healthy Alternatives to Fad Diets: The Total Diet Approach 7.1 Introduction 7.2 What to Eat 7.3 When to Eat 7.4 How to Eat 7.5 Conclusion References Part II: Case-Based Chapters Chapter 8: Muscle Mania: An Adolescent Male Athlete 8.1 Case 8.2 Discussion 8.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 9: An Athlete with Fatigue 9.1 Case 9.2 Discussion 9.2.1 The Dietitian’s Assessment 9.2.2 Balancing Energy Expenditure and Energy Intake 9.2.3 Nutrient Deficiencies, Secondary Amenorrhea, and Bone Health 9.2.3.1 Bone Health and Menstruation 9.2.3.2 Iron Deficiency Anemia 9.2.4 Establishing Follow-up 9.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 10: Period Problems: An Adolescent with Amenorrhea 10.1 Case 10.2 Discussion 10.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 11: Like Mother, like Son: An Adolescent Who Diets with his Parent 11.1 Case 11.2 Discussion 11.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 12: An Adolescent in the Performing Arts 12.1 Case 12.2 Discussion 12.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 13: Global Food Fads: An Adolescent from India 13.1 Case 13.2 Discussion 13.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 14: LGBTQ+ Adolescents, Disordered Eating, and Fad Diets 14.1 Case 14.2 Discussion 14.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 15: Fad Diets and Autism Spectrum Disorder 15.1 Case 15.2 Discussion 15.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 16: Cultural Considerations and Fad Dieting 16.1 Case 16.2 Discussion 16.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 17: An Adolescent with Chronic Abdominal Pain 17.1 Case 17.2 Discussion 17.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 18: An Adolescent with a Higher BMI 18.1 Case 18.2 Discussion 18.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 19: An Adolescent with Strong Beliefs 19.1 Case 19.2 Discussion 19.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 20: An Adolescent with Acne 20.1 Case 20.2 Discussion 20.3 Back to the Case References Untitled Chapter 21: Food Insecurity and Fad Dieting in Adolescents 21.1 Case 21.2 Discussion 21.3 Back to the Case References Chapter 22: An Adolescent with a Chronic Health Condition 22.1 Case 22.2 Discussion 22.2.1 Celiac Disease Basics 22.2.2 DTCI and Disordered Eating 22.2.3 When a Medical Diet Becomes a Fad Diet 22.2.4 Support for Athletes with DTCI 22.2.5 Supporting Adolescent Athlete Health and Wellness References Index