ALL TEENS ARE concerned about how they look. They want to be attractive and to fit in with others. But meeting society's standards for looking good isn't always easy, especially for girls. Girls are judged by their appearance more than boys are, and the standards are high. As always, physical attractiveness in females is based on pretty features, a good complexion, nice hair, and a well-proportioned body. Today, however, "well-proportioned" is popularly interpreted to mean "thin." As a result, many teenage girls are unhappy with their bodies. This is especially true of those who, because of pressures or problems in their own lives, become fixated on weight as a way of achieving success or happiness.

As Dan Rather reported in a 48 Hours documentary,

Women are far more likely than men to be unhappy with the way they look, and their weight is the biggest reason why. The worrying...