The field of women's health is concerned with health issues and aging changes relating to postpubescent females. During adolescence (ages 12-20), a young woman's body begins to change as puberty sets in and menstrual cycles begin. At the same time, teenage girls also have changing nutritional needs and susceptibility to diseases.

Teenage girls need more calories and nutrients than at any other time in their lives as their body mass will almost double. Bone development and calcium requirements really peak during these years; in fact, how much calcium a girl gets now will establish the lifelong pattern for how healthy her bones become. Yet this dramatic increase in food requirements comes at a time when many girls develop irregular eating habits. Concerned as their bodies begin to change and become more mature, many teenagers start to diet. A few girls take dieting too far and develop...