DR. WALLACE: My father and I get along very well except when we're discussing the style many teens of today choose to adopt - specifically, body piercing and tattoos.

I rarely go against my father's wishes, but I'd like to get a tattoo on the back of my shoulder, which would be out of sight. I'm going to be 17 in a few days and feel what I do to my body, (as long as it's not detrimental to my health) is my business. My father, unfortunately, does not share this view. He says no tattoos, period!

When I was 14, my parents allowed me to get my nose pierced as a Christmas gift. Now I want a tattoo and I'd pay for it with the money I've earned working. What do you think? — Kelly, Newark, N.J.

KELLY: I realize that tattoos are in vogue for females and especially older female teens, but once they are put on, they are extremely difficult and costly to erase. That's why the majority of states will not allow a tattoo on someone under the age of 18 without parental permission.

I agree with this rule. Wait until you're 18 before you consider getting a tattoo. In those 12 or so months, you might just change your mind and you would be thankful that you waited.

MOST TEENS ARE JUST LIKE YOU

DR. WALLACE: I was pleased to read the letter from Dave who wanted you to know that all teens are not into booze, drugs or violent activities. I, too, am one of the millions of teens out there who is part of the silent majority. I am a non-smoking, non-drinking, non-drug-taking adolescent. I care too much about myself to be "cool" and get "blitzed."

It's like my former psychology teacher says: "You only get one body and you can't trade it in if you abuse it."

Every chance I get I thank God for not permitting me to stray off course! I know I'll be a better human being because of my lifestyle. — Tony, St. Louis, Mo.

TONY: From my travels around the United States and Canada, lecturing in high schools and talking with teens, I'm convinced that today's teens are intelligent, energetic, fun-loving and highly motivated human beings. Some of them are troubled and hurting, but most of them are just like you.

SWING ARMS TO LOSE WEIGHT

DR. WALLACE: My parents and I are into a family exercise program that includes walking five times each week. All of us are overweight, so walking helps us two ways. It gives us great exercise and it burns calories. Please tell us how many calories we burn on a two-mile walk that takes about an hour. If we walk faster, will we burn more calories? How else can we burn calories while we walk? — Jill, Portland, Maine.

JILL: A 160-pound person walking two miles in an hour burns approximately 240 calories. The Mayo Clinic Health Letter suggests that you can double the calories you burn by exaggerating your arm swings while holding two-pound hand weights.

Any time you involve more muscles in an activity, you burn more calories. The number of calories burned varies with walking speed and the height of your arm swings.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.