Q: HI MIKE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW CAN I LOSE WEIGHT FAST BECASUE I'M
16 YEAR OLD IN I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT SO PLEASE HELP ME.

A: First thing you need to do is realize that fast weight loss is neither healthy nor will give you the results you probably want nor will allow you to keep the weight off for good. Instead of looking to lose the weight fast, resolve to lose it the right way.

Good news is that at your age losing weight the right way is not difficult at all, though it will take time. Most important thing is to change your diet so you eat healthy nutritious foods instead of heavy but nutritionally worthless processed foods that most people eat. Focus on eating lots and lots of vegetables (raw, as much as possible) -- other than corn and potatoes which are too starchy. Also eat fruits (again whole raw fruits), whole grains (plain old-fashioned oatmeal is great! Whole-wheat bread is OK in moderate amounts), lean fish and meats, and in moderation eggs and dry-roasted nuts (not oil-roasted). Read my nutrition article for more detail on what to eat and what not to eat. At your age don't worry too much about how much you eat, but instead focus on eating the right stuff.

Besides eating right you need to increase your activity level. This can come from almost anything -- walking/jogging/running/hiking, biking, rollerblading,s swimming, playing sports, mowing lawns, washing cars, painting fences, etc etc. The point is to be active. You can certainly take up weight training too if you have adult supervision and access to equipment. Or you can start doing this program. Shoot for at the very least one hour of physical activity daily.

Between eating healthier, being much more active, and your continuing natural growth and development you can shed the extra fat no problem AND make sure it never comes back. Once again, don't look for quick weight loss but instead focus on making meaningful changes to your lifestyle. If you do lose weight, make sure it's very slow -- no faster than 1 pound per week at the fastest (slower is better). Good luck!