DR. WALLACE: I'm 1 16-year-old who really needs your advice. I live at home with my mother and two older brothers who are ages 17 and 18. The problem is that my two brothers can do no wrong. My mom places them on a pedestal. She thinks that cooking and washing and pleasing males are the reasons that females were put on earth for. Ever since I can remember, mom and I have literally been servants for my brothers.

Because of this, my brothers show me no respect. Let me give you an example. Both brothers have their own cars. Last week, I was walking home from the store when it suddenly started raining. My brother drove right by and didn't even pick up his soaking-wet sister and give her a ride home. The reason was that he was late in meeting a few of his friends.

Then when I got home my mom got upset with me because I got upset with my brother when he came home. She defended his action. I think this is unfair. What can I do to get mom to treat me as an equal with my brothers? I'm tired of being a second-class citizen in my own family. Talking to my mom does no good! — Nameless, Orlando, Fla.

NAMELESS: Maybe reading might. Make sure mom gets a chance to read this column. Let's hope that the written word will inspire a change in her misguided parental philosophy. The "silver lining" is that when you become a mother, you won't be making the same mistake!

STOP SMOKING, THEN LOSE WEIGHT

DR. WALLACE: I just read your column about the mother who stopped smoking. I'm proud of her because I, too, am an ex-smoker, having quit four years ago. But one sentence in her letter jumped out at me: "I threw away all of my cigarettes, bought a ton of munchies and was determined to stop smoking cold turkey."

When I stopped smoking cold turkey, I didn't buy munchies, but I still added 30 pounds to my small frame. I'm happy that I've kicked the smoking habit, but I'm now trying desperately to lose weight and curb my appetite.

All I have done is to trade one addiction for another. Please warn those who stop the tobacco craze to be careful about gaining excess weight. — Jenny, Lincoln, Nebr.

JENNY: Thanks for the excellent suggestion. According to The American Cancer Society, many people who stop smoking, especially when they go cold turkey, do, indeed, turn to food as a substitute and quickly blimp up.

The Cancer Society recommends first overcoming the nicotine addiction, then, when the desire to light up has completely vanished, try to shed those extra pounds. But you can minimize your weight gain. For instance, snacks of fresh fruit and vegetables are a low-calorie and healthy alternative to junk food.

Congratulations on kicking the tobacco addiction. Losing 30 pounds may seem daunting, but I'm sure you can do it by eating sensibly and exercising regularly. Be patient with yourself and lose the weight at a one-pound per week ratio. Start now and contact me in a month and give me a progress report.

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 rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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.