I was just wondering — What is a good way for someone aged 13-14 to lose weight? I have been what my mother calls overweight and my dad (exaggeratedly) calls obese for about a year now and it is really pissing me off. All the other girls at school are thin — like there are only about 3 fat girls in my grade. I want to be thin — one of my goals is to be able to walk down a busy beach (like Bondi) in a bikini and not feel self-conscious. What is a good way to lose weight? – Emma, 13

Hey Jess! I was wondering if you could help figure out how to stop feeling beneath others. I feel like the popular people, or attractive people are better than me and I shouldn’t be able to do what I want because I will be made fun of. I need to boost my self-confidence because a [...]

Hi Jess, I was just wondering…how do diet pills effect your self esteem and your body? – Lauren

Lauren,

Thanks for your e mail – this is a really important question and one that should also be addressed by your parent/guardian or a mentor you trust.

Some people look to diet pills as a ‘quick fix’ for losing weight fast. The idea might sound intriguing or appealing because it promises results in a hurry but the real confidence you may get from transforming your health and well-being will come from hard work, taking care of your nutrition and looking at the deeper issues impacting the way you feel about yourself.

Every time I look in the mirror I can’t help but hate what I see. I constantly feel like I need to lose weight. I used to be a dancer and before a show I wouldn’t eat at all a week before. Since I quit last year I feel like there is no activity in [...]

What do you do when your divorced parents are fighting?
Submitted by: Arielle, 11, Canada

Hi, Arielle. Divorce is an adult concept, but it no doubt affects kids everywhere. Unfortunately, there is no perfect answer to your question, but here are a couple things I suggest. First, try as best you can not to pick sides. [...]

What should you do if a girl is mean to you over nothing, and she is talking about you and saying stuff about you that is not true?

Submitted by: Ashley L. 15, MI
Well, Ashley, since I lived this throughout my life between the ages of 11 and 17, I can tell you that the best [...]