My teenager wants to go on the same diet that I'm on. Is that OK?

Although I want to say it depends on what diet you're on, in general, kids and teens have different calorie and nutrient requirements than adults since their bodies are still growing and changing. For this reason, diets that are designed for adult bodies are not usually healthy for teenagers.

For an overweight teen to lose weight, it's important for him or her to eat smaller portions, cut down on junk food (especially soda and other sweetened beverages) and exercise more. Because teens need a full range of protein, carbohydrates and fats, it's not healthy for them to drastically cut down on an entire category of nutrients as is common in many low-protein, low-carb or very low-fat diets. This sort of dieting can result in a teen who is tired, cranky and moody, and has trouble thinking, concentrating or paying attention in school.

Although many teenagers try every diet they can find, most of these diets are not healthy for their bodies and, as a parent, you should not be encouraging their use.