Should Teen Girls Be Encouraged to DASH Diet?

The DASH diet -- also known as the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension -- was originally conceived to help lower the blood pressure of adult patients. Now, the DASH diet is receiving attention for an entirely different reason. U.S. News reports that a recent study found that girls whose diet most closely resembled the DASH diet were more likely to remain slim between the ages of 9 and 19.

The DASH diet focuses largely on increasing portions of fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, as well as whole grains, nuts, fish and lean meats. Eating a lot of carbohydrates and fatty meats are discouraged. The Dash Diet is currently endorsed by the American Heart Association and according to DashDiet.org, it "formed the basis for the USDA MyPlate."

The LA Times reports that the recent longitudinal study of the DASH Diet followed 2,379 girls over the course of 10 years -- beginning when they were only 9 or 10. The young women that had followed the DASH guidelines most closely ended up with the lowest BMIs.

While these results are promising, it begs the question of whether pushing a set dieting plan on young women and girls is a positive thing? Is this diet a promising way to encourage healthy eating habits for life? Or could it have a backlash effect, creating an environment where young women feel guilty about what they eat?

We asked some of our readers and here's what they had to say:

Laura G.
I struggle with that same question with my daughter. I believe that kids need to be taught to take care of their bodies, exercise and eat right, without the focus being on weight.

Mari L.
I struggle with this as well. My 10 year-old is on the chubby side but it's more pre-teen baby fat than eating poorly. I want her to eat right and work out to maintain a healthy lifestyle and NOT becuase she's trying to change her body. Its a lot to combat between media, movies and magazine covers of airbrushed models. I looked at this DASH diet. Interestingly enough, we already eat this way.

Tamara G.
I think it's a good thing. It might help them to eat more appropriately in their future.

Rhonda H.
Our lifestyles have to change. It needs to be ok to walk or ride a bike to work, school, the grocery store -- even out to eat. And yes, we need to learn to eat healthy. There are too many easy food options that are unhealthy. If a diet is a new healthier way of eating then yes, diets for teens are a good thing. Really it should start at birth. My granddaughter, age 5, was given a "Lunchables" for lunch. A lot of calories and fat and vitamin C from the juice.

Anne L.
Every time I read a story like this, I flash back to being a teen myself and struggling through diet after diet to lose weight -- and I started at 5'11 and 110 lbs. That's right, seriously underweight, but that's what I thought I should do. Lord knows what weight I thought was acceptable. I think teens and preteens should be taught how to eat healthy and stay active without emphasizing weight loss. There's way too much emphasis on unhealthy and unrealistic body types for young women as it is.

Laura H.
A diet emphasizing fruit, vegetables, whole grain and low-fat dairy? Of course it's a good thing! And not just for teen girls.