Dangerous Diets  
Are the Atkins and Sugar Busters diets appropriate for your overweight child? Why pediatric nutritionists say no.  By Colleen Pierre, R.D.   
 
• Test Your Food and Fitness Facts  
• Heading Off Eating Disorders   
  
Q: Are the Atkins and Sugar Busters diets appropriate for overweight kids?

A: No. Although the popular series of Sugar Busters books now has an edition specifically for children and many fans of the Atkins low-carb diet are putting their kids on the diet plan, pediatric nutrition experts advise parents against it. "That's because extreme diets and their impact on growth have not been studied extensively," says Bill Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., director of nutrition and physical activity for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.

What's more, these books incorrectly assert that eating few carbohydrates is essential for keeping insulin levels low because high levels, found in many overweight children, trigger fat storage and weight gain. Rather, eating too much of any food causes people to gain weight, says Dr. Dietz. "It's important to find healthy ways to keep total calories, not just carbohydrate intake, under control," he explains.

If your child is significantly overweight, ask her pediatrician for advice or a referral to a dietician. And don't be discouraged if she doesn't lose weight. "For a 7-year-old girl, just maintaining her body weight is about the same as an adult losing six pounds in a year," says Dr. Dietz.

Five-Star Book for Teens: The Ultimate Weight Solution for Teens by Jay McGraw .  Don't put your children on a diet.  Help them change their lifestyle and set respectably healthy goals.

Many teens, if given the opportunity, will take the path of least resistance.  It is for this reason that we must, as parents and caregivers, define our children's challenges and strongly encourage them to accomplish.  If we don't demand certain requirements, no questions asked, then our children may lag through life always taking the easy route.  By insisting that they exercises their talents and skills and giving them opportunities to raise the bar, eventually they will learn the joy of accomplishment and even learn from their not so successful experiences.   

Don't let your child guilt you out of being a responsible parent.  Your teen will likely survive advance courses, piano lessons and even etiquette school.  And who knows, maybe someday your efforts will be acknowledged and appreciated.