They go overboard with junk foods, fast foods, follow fad diets, skip meals, and don't get enough of the nutrient-rich foods their growing bodies need.
Nutritionists say such extreme eating habits can be extremely dangerous.
Ironically, the nutrients that teenagers need the most in those peak growth years they don't get, says Sheila Kelly, a clinical dietitian at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC, who writes a monthly nutrition column for healthAtoZ Professional. In particular, teenagers lack calcium, iron and zinc. The media also has an influence, she says. They drink too much diet soda. U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys show that roughly 9 out of 10 girls and nearly 7 out of 10 boys, ages 12 to 19, are not getting the recommended amount of calcium needed for strong bones.