I will never forget the first moment I started to worry about my weight. I was nine years old and visiting my grandparents in Virginia Beach for the summer. While putting on my hand-me-down bathing suit in my grandmother’s bathroom, my aunt came in to collect me. She looked me up and down, slowly extended one long finger and prodded me in the ribs.
“Aiyah,” she said. “You are getting fat.”
I am Whasian: half-Chinese, half-Caucasian. My father, a (now retired) diplomat, met my mother in Hong Kong, and the two of …

You’re up, you’re down, you’re on an emotional roller coaster for no good reason at all. The usual suspect? It’s that time of that month again, and you’ve gotten your period. There’s no question that PMS, otherwise known as pre-menstrual syndrome, can affect a girl’s mood, but being on your period can also affect your body’s health. Iron and calcium become particularly important for females during their menstrual cycle—not only are they nutrients your body generally needs, but they can also help relieve symptoms and replace the iron lost during …

Yoga instructor Sonya Pepping was never a model child. By the time she was 15, she was already going to nightclubs and taking hard drugs. Living with divorced parents and a mom working two jobs was hard, and Pepping admits, “I had plenty of time to be left alone. I mostly hung out with Asian kids who were in the gang scene. I was insecure about who I was. I had a very strong urge to just be accepted and be a part of something whole.” But what is even …

The first time I heard of Lynn Chen was when I saw her playing the role of darling Ramona in the 2009 film “White on Rice.” She was such a natural on screen—a testament to the talent of the many underrated Asian American actors out there. But it wasn’t until I researched more about her films and career as an actress that I learned about her lifelong battle with binge eating and anorexia. For a moment, I was completely stunned at how someone so talented, smart and beautiful could ever …

Hookah or waterpipe smoking—also known as shisha or chica in other countries—is often considered a fun, harmless and lighter version of smoking without the dangers cigarettes pose. It’s become a rising trend in the U.S., especially among adolescents and the college student population, but the perception that hookah is safer than cigarette smoking and virtually harmless is unfounded.

Phones are no longer just for listening to music, taking pictures, checking your email and looking up directions. Mobile apps have completely changed the way we think about our health and are making a difference in the way we live. There are thousands of apps for the Blackberry, iPhone and Android that will give you the real-time support and momentum you need to achieve optimal health and fitness. Whether you’re trying to calculate the number of calories in a slice of pizza or how much time you’ll need to spend on the elliptical to burn off those calories, there’s an app for everything.

Unfortunately, it’s usually when our bodies are in their prime that we are most likely to abuse them. We lead hectic lives, rushing between commitments and not taking the time to savor a sit-down meal. Here are some of the Mochi staff’s favorite quick-and-easy recipes for those on the go. Enjoy!

It’s common knowledge that your body changes drastically between childhood and adulthood, but you may have also noticed that your skin can become collateral damage in these hormone-fueled transitions. Here are three common skin problems and a few ways to combat them:

As a student-athlete, does your diet change between seasons? Contrary to popular belief, the dietary needs of a track star or tennis champion actually remain unchanged whether he or she is training or not. The main difference is in the amount of calories and fluids a student-athlete consumes while they are preparing for a competition.

In 2006, the American Psychological Association released a report that although Asian Americans have lower rates of mental illness than Caucasians, they are also less likely to seek treatment. In the second semester of my freshman year of college, I was one of those Asian Americans who didn’t seek help.

Myth: Everyone’s doing it.
Truth: Less than half of high school students have had sex, according to studies.

Sex is everywhere. It’s harmonized in metaphoric lyrics, illustrated in steamy movie scenes and featured in provocative billboards and magazine ads. Regardless of your gender or relationship status, sex inevitably will cross your mind at one point or another. Yet, particularly among the Asian American community, it is rarely an open topic of discussion, and talking about it is a taboo.

When you’re sexually active, it’s important to find a method of birth control that fits your lifestyle if you’re not ready to become pregnant. The only way to completely prevent pregnancy (or STIs) is not to have sex, but there are also a number of contraceptives that can greatly reduce these risks. Dr. Michelle Sia, an instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University’s school of medicine, recommends speaking with a gynecologist who can review your medical history and personal needs with you to make the best choice.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be transmitted whenever bodily fluids are exchanged, not just during vaginal sex. And while they’re the least fun topic when it comes to safe sex, as long as you’re sexually active, the truth is that you might end up harming your health with some very uncomfortable symptoms.

Mr. Fat, I have tried to get rid of you on my own, but you’re too clingy. I’ve never seriously tried to lose weight—I’ve just tried eating less, but to no avail, so I turned to my friends for help. They started throwing out words like The Master Cleanse and Beyoncé’s diet and Atkins. Overwhelmed, I decided I needed professional advice.