Do I really need to lose weight? Some teenagers say that they want to lose weight. However . . . Many are more concerned about their appearance than their health. To shed pounds, some resort to quick fixes, like skipping meals or taking weight-loss pills. Such methods usually prove futile and are sometimes even dangerous. “Some girls starve themselves to get faster results. This usually backfires, and then it takes a long time for their body to recover from the damage.”—Hailey. Many who are concerned about their weight should not be. Their weight is fine—but perhaps they feel fat when they compare themselves with their peers or with the skinny “ideal” that the media promotes. “When I was 13, I compared myself to my friends. I thought they would like me more if I looked like them—which meant that I had to be stick-thin.”—Paola. On the other hand, some young people really do need to lose weight. According to a World Health Organization report . . . Globally, some 340 million youths bet
Audio Audio download options How Can I Get More Sleep If you’re failing math, you might think that you just need to study harder. If you’re not performing your best at sports, you might think you just need to practice more. But in both cases what you really might need is more sleep. Consider why. Why do you need sleep? What is keeping you up? How can you get more sleep? What your peers say Why do you need sleep? Experts say that most teenagers need between eight and ten hours of sleep a night. Why is it important that you get enough sleep? Sleep sharpens your mental skills. Sleep has been called “food for the brain.” It can help you improve at school, at sports, and in your problem-solving skills. Sleep improves your attitude and mood. Sleep-deprived people are more likely to experience mood swings, feel sad or depressed, and have problems getting along with others. Sleep makes you a safer driver. A study in the United States revealed that drivers aged 16 to 24 were “nearl