Ask Dr Miriam

Q My 15-year-old granddaughter is worried about her weight, not for health reasons, but because she gets teased at school and wants to be slim like her friends. How can I help?

A Weight and body image are delicate issues for teenage girls, so approach the conversation with diplomacy. Tell your granddaughter there’s no single ideal weight and no perfect body. The right weight for one person may not be the right weight for another. Rather than talking about “fat” and “thin”, encourage her to set realistic goals by eating healthily and taking exercise. Help her understand losing weight and keeping it off is a lifetime commitment. Fad diets are a no-no as they can rob her of iron, calcium and other essential nutrients while she is growing. Weightloss pills and quick fixes are short term and pose their own risks.

Her goal should be a permanent change in eating habits and tell her she needs an hour of physical activity a day.