Think about this: How many of those media images match the real people you know? It usually takes hours and hours of work, make-up artists, starvation diets and expertise clothes to achieve the fashion model look. Most important, not ALL friends, sisters, boys like the models on TV and in magazines. In fact, according to feminist author Susan Faludi, only 5 percent of all women have the ultra-thin, long-legged bodies that advertising agencies consider ‘ideal’.

This typical scenario explains how the cycle works:

After eating fatty foods and not exercising for a while, Felicia begins to gain weight. Afraid of rejection from friends and family, she decides to go on a crash diet. Felicia stops eating breakfast and eats only salads for lunch and dinner.

Felicia gets on the scale and is excited to see that she's lost ten pounds. In the meantime, her body thinks she's starving and automatically slows her metabolism, at the rate which she burns calories.

At a party, Felicia falls off her diet and fills up on lots of high-fat food. 'Screw it' she thinks to herself, and keeps eating. Like most people, Felicia can't keep up her low-calorie diet because her body cries out for more nourishment.

Felicia gains back all her weight. But worse than that, because dieting caused her metabolism to slow down, once she returns to her former way of eating she puts back on all of the weight she lost - and more.

First of all, understand where the odor comes from. As your hormones increase, you'll begin to sweat more under your arms. The hormones will also cause underarm hair (called axillary hair) to grow. When you sweat, bacteria combines with the moisture and gets trapped. This causes the odor. To avoid it, bathe and use deodorant daily. Some young women also like to shave or use a depilatory on their underarm hair, which isn't necessary because hair itself doesn't odor. If the idea of underarm shaving appeals to you, talk it over with Mom. Be careful about putting on deodorant right after shaving because your skin could be irritated and deodorant might sting.

The hormonal changes of puberty lead to an increase in sweat. If sweat isn't dealt with regularly, it can lead to body odor. Wash regularly, and if necessary, use a deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent the build-up of odor. Although many girls dislike armpit hair, shaving doesn't prevent odor, can cause itching and discomfort.

Acne is common in adolescence. The spots are caused by the male hormone testosterone, which is present in small quantities in girls, as well as in boys. Testosterone affects the glands in the skin, and the ducts leading to the surface become blocked, causing spots and pimples. Acne is usually temporary, you chemist or doctor can offer treatments to help get it under control. Meanwhile keep your skin clean, but don't over wash it, and avoid squeezing spots, as this can scar the skin. A good diet and exercise might also help.

It's easy to get things out of proportion, and even friendly teasing about your new figure can be hard to take. Try not to become too focused on your weight. If you are worried, check with your doctor before dieting, to see if it's really necessary. Otherwise follow sensible eating and exercise patterns and try to accept what nature has given you.