Ages 12–17
Straight answers, no diets, no weigh-ins, no shame. Growing bodies play by different rules to adult ones, and most of the advice online was never written for you.
Your body is under construction, and construction sites look messy in the middle. That's not a fault — it's the job going well.
Puberty adds height, muscle, bone and fat in bursts — and rarely in a tidy order. Lots of people gain weight first and grow into it months later. Hips, chest, shoulders and feet often turn up early and out of proportion. It's the build phase, not the final shape.
A growing body needs a steady supply of fuel to build bone and brain. Restricting food during those years is linked to slower growth, weaker bones, more anxiety around food, and — surprisingly — higher weight later. If something about food or your body worries you, the move is a conversation, not a diet.
You're comparing your live, unedited body to filtered, posed, lit and often paid-for images. Feeds are built to make you feel like an outlier so you keep watching. Muting accounts that make you feel worse is a legitimate health decision.
Diet talk spreads fast in friend groups and mostly makes everyone feel worse. You're allowed to say "I don't really do food talk" and change the subject. You don't owe anyone an explanation of what's on your plate.
Regular meals plus snacks, enough sleep, water, movement you genuinely like, and time off screens. That's the real list. Nobody your age needs a weigh-in, a calorie app, or a 'transformation'.
Under-fuelling in sport is a genuine risk — it can stall periods, weaken bones and cause injuries. If a coach is talking about your weight, that's a conversation to bring to a parent, doctor or another trusted adult, not something to solve alone.
None of these mean anything is wrong with you. They mean it's time to have someone in your corner — a parent, school nurse, GP or counsellor.
Eating difficulties are common, treatable, and much easier to treat early. You do not have to be very unwell to deserve help.
This corner is general education, not medical advice, and it can't replace a doctor who knows you. If you're in crisis, contact your local emergency number or a helpline in your country right away.