No specific tests are required at this particular age, though baseline blood, urine and cholesterol testing should be part of any comprehensive initial physical with a new doctor. The doctor should be approachable so that the teenager feels comfortable talking to him or her. However, the discussion of sexuality and risky behaviors with teenagers remains an important health issue. A family doctor is also a good person to reinforce a message that teenagers may hear at school and home about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and smoking. Body image matters to teenagers, so frequently family doctors get questions from young people about pimples, acne, warts and other skin conditions that typically plague them.
Teens also worry about their weight.
Teens who eat more natural foods and less process foods are also much better off. The doctor can provide realistic expectations about a teen s weight, and be on the alert for signs of eating disorders, which are an increasingly common problem among adolescent girls. A doctor can discuss with a young patient guidelines about what is safe and effective. Supplements that build muscle mass have become the rage among weightlifters and other young athletes. However, a doctor should stress to young people that they can build lean muscle mass more naturally through safe and supervised exercise, and through good diet.