Making Healthy Choices: Web Sites for Women's Health

www.youngwomenshealth.org

Here you’ll find “quick reference” material that girls, parents, librarians, and teachers can explore, print, and bookmark. Short “Health Guides” for tweens and older girls are organized alphabetically. Created by: Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Don’t miss: The “Nutrition & Fitness” section, covering eating disorders and general nutrition. “Emotional Health” provides guidance on depression, divorce, self-injury, and stress.

www.girlshealth.gov

Designed for girls ages 10 to 16, GirlsHealth, covers a wide range of health topics—but doesn’t focus on sexuality as other health sites do. There are particularly useful sections, including “Bullying” and “Drugs, Alcohol & Smoking.” (Check out the “Guess what’s in a cigarette?” quiz.) Sections entitled “For Parents & Caregivers” and “For Educators” are also worthy of review. Created by: The National Women’s Health Information Center, Washington, D C. Don’t miss: The “Drug Glossary” in “Drugs, Alcohol & Smoking” for the latest on street drugs and lingo.

www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/bodywise/index.htm

For young girls who are curious about keeping fit, this site, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, describes body image, nutrition, fitness, eating disorders, and puberty (not just sexuality). Links that help girls e-mail copies are useful for librarians handling phone requests. Appropriate for young girls and parents, who may be uncomfortable allowing kids access to more sex-related sites. Don’t miss: The “Body FX” link, for advice about tobacco, alcohol, inhalants, and illegal drugs.

www.iemily.com

This unique site, from iEmily, Inc., in Cambridge, MA, includes information on herbs, natural remedies and beauty tips, and yoga. “My Story” offers up essays written by girls about grief, living with a disability, self-image, and self-injury. “Healthy Eating” contains recipes that will appeal to young people. Parents may want to review sections on sexuality and alternative lifestyles before sharing with their kids. Don’t miss: A printable list of health hotline telephone numbers.

www.4women.gov/bodyimage

This site aims to educate preteen and teen girls about how to perceive their bodies. Parents of teens desiring cosmetic surgery will find information on safety issues, as well as links. Created by: The National Women’s Health Information Center in Washington DC. Don’t miss: PDFs with information for middle school personnel and the “BodyWise Handbook” for experts to help staff detect the presence of eating disorders. For PDF printables on nutrition and fitness, visit the “Bodyworks Toolkit” at www.womenshealth.gov/BodyWorks/toolkit.