From all you hear, you'd think fat and calories are really bad for you. It's true that some people have too much fat in their diets and eat more calories than they need. But we all need a some fat and calories in our diets to fuel our growth and activities.

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What causes obesity in a teen?
Welcome to Ask a Fat Girl , a column in which Charlotte Zoller addresses your questions about living life in a bigger body. Have a question for Charlotte? Send it to submit askafatgirl. All submissions will remain anonymous unless given explicit consent to share first name, age, location, or body size. Any advice for finding my place? You are not alone in these feelings! Vocalizing your frustration is an important first step to finding your footing. In fact, the last time I was a size 14 was when I was age So, I reached out to a few of my mid-sized friends to offer advice on finding your place in a size 14 body. She offers a different perspective.
What is obesity in teens?
Obesity is when a teen has too much body fat. Obesity may become a serious, long-term disease. In many ways, childhood obesity is a puzzling disease. Doctors do not fully understand how the body controls weight and body fat. On one hand, the cause seems simple. If a person takes in more calories than they use for energy, then they will gain weight. But a teen's obesity can be caused by a combination of things. It can be linked to:. Obesity may be passed down through families. Experts are looking at the link between genes, the ever-changing environment, and obesity.
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