As the low-carb craze continues to sweep the nation, more teenagers are giving the diet a try. But teens and low-carbs could be a dangerous combination. "These diets restrict the central nutrients that growing teenagers need," says Registered Dietician Joanne Shearer. That's what concerns doctors and dieticians most. While childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in this country, many agree a strict low-carbohydrate diet is not the way to fix the problem. "The concern I have with the low-carbohydrate diet for teenagers is it's a short-term fix for a long-term problem," says Shearer. She says that short-term fix often means eliminating some of the foods a growing teen needs most, like whole grains and calcium.

"Very good quality carbohydrates that you find in dairy foods are restricted. That's a real concern for growing teenagers that need calcium for their bones," says Shearer. Sometimes the effects of a low-carb diet can be even more dangerous. Take the case of 16-year-old Rachel Huskey. The Missouri teen died of an irregular heart beat, now attributed to her low-carb diet. Other possible side effects include kidney stones and what some experts call a "dulling" of the brain.

"People that are on the low-carb diet do report more lethargy, not as energetic and feeling not as mentally sharp or alert and for teenagers, that would definitely be a big concern," says Shearer. For other teens, a low-carb diet has helped them eat healthier and lose weight in the process. In fact, a recent study of 30 teenagers found a low-carb diet was safe and effective for short-term weight-loss, though the verdict is still out on how the diets would effect pre-teens.

Shearer suggests limiting the bad carbs, and getting back to the basics. "More whole grains, fruits and vegetables, leaner choices on meats, that's the approach that really seems to work the best in the long term," she says.

If teens really want to slim down, Shearer suggests getting rid of their daily dose of pop. She says getting rid of the soda would go a long way in reducing the obesity rate in teenagers.


http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.as...94&nav=0w0jNBqX