I am curious what you think about this book? I just heard about it this morning and thought to myself...book for kids to learn to diet and be thin so people will like you and you will finally be happy??? Really??? I get that our kids should not be at unhealthy weights, but to make them responsible for their own success in that? What about the parental role in teaching your kids the right way to eat? Obviously if Maggie was able to diet and choose better foods and more physical activity in order to loose weight, she had a problem. But was the problem hers or her parents?
I am getting a mixed message about the book...
“Losing the weight was not only good for Maggie’s health, Maggie was so much happier and was also very proud of herself.” - I agree, a healthy child is a happy child, success is always good when its motivation is being healthy.
“More and more people were beginning to know Maggie by name. Playing soccer gave Maggie popularity and fame.” - OK...so, the only way my child will be popular is if she is thin and can play sports? Otherwise, will you dismiss my child? Is my child being taught that they are worthless if not thin and popular?
It's bad enough that magazines make it seem as though a size "0" is the emblem of beauty for women...now a children's book is going to do the same for our children? Let's keep in mind, this book is geared for girls ages 4-10ish.
I am leaning towards not liking the book...What is your thought on this???
Being heavy myself, with a heavy child, I can tell you that life is not that easy. My daughter is beautiful, even if a little overweight. We do teach her about being active, we do have her playing soccer. I try to get her to eat healthy. She still has a lot of growing to do. She has been a big kid since she was born (can we say 95% both height and weight?) and it is difficult to assess what her nutritional needs are with how quickly she grows.
ReplyDeleteI believe that she needs to have confidence in herself and her abilities, not that she needs to be at a perfect weight. It's not fair to anyone to tell them that they are fat or that they shouldn't eat if they are hungry. She'll get enough of that when she's a teenager or before. Until then, she should use childhood for what it is meant to be - fun and learning, not worrying about calories and fat.
I totally agree Tara! With kids growing and changing in so many ways while they are young, they should not go on a "diet"...that is teaching them wrong. You are a good mommy by teaching your daughter to be active and eat healthy, and by far the best...having confidence in herself and her abilities. Kuddos to you! Let kids be kids :)
ReplyDeleteBTW...I am soooo not a size "0"...I am on the heavier side myself. As I asked above..."But was the problem hers or her parents?", If you don't teach your kids a healthy lifestyle, it is definitely the parent's fault. The book puts the blame on the kid.
Hello Caffeine Happy People-
ReplyDeleteThis is my take on this subject... EEEEeeeeewwwwww! A big thumbs down to the author and the people who published this book. Shame on them!
Hello Darling,
ReplyDeleteCaffe here, and you may not want to hear what I have to say... What's wrong with a book that encourages healthy choices? Yes Darling, I do understand the chit chat in the book says that you will be more popular and well liked... it's true isn't it? A healthy child, is an active child, and an active child will have more self confidence based on their healthy lifestyle.
What's wrong with saying that? The advertisers of junk food constantly put the image of popularity or being with the "in" group if you eat certain foods that is advertised as "cool" but no one makes a stink about that... so now we have an author that went the other way and said that if the child makes healthy choices, they will be popular and now a part of the "cool" group. What's the difference?
So yes, parental guidance is important as it IS the parent that is teaching what their child is worth, and to most parents, their child is gold. So I wouldn't worry about the outside influences if the child has a strong sense of values that has been instilled throughout the years from their parents.
I DO agree that a number for a perfect weight is ridiculous, it's a matter of what is healthy for each individual... size shouldn't matter if it is in proportioned to the individuals body.
My, my... I think I've had to much caffeine today and I now need a decaf! Ta Ta!
Hi Caffe,
ReplyDeleteLet's see...What is the difference between a children's book instilling a lifestyle of dieting at such an early age and being popular if you eat "junk food" from advertisements?
The only difference is that they are 2 complete opposite ends of the spectrum.
The similarities...both instill unhealthy eating habits in our children, both give a negative or false sense of self worth based on eating habits, and both allow for subliminal parenting.
There is no way in this society, with all that is available to us, that we can eat 100% good and healthy foods 100% of the time. Yes, I am being realistic. So let's teach our kids self control, give healthy alternatives rather than giving diet advice. We as adults all know that diets don't work, eating healthy and exercising does. It's called healthy living.
Keep your kids from watching too much TV (and commercials)...that means games too. I think you will find the alternative to be much healthier...going outside to play.
Subliminal parenting...well, if you give into your kids and let the commercials and teachings of such books take over...you are letting them parent your child. Take over!!! Be a parent and keep teaching your children that healthy living is the right way.
There is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Excess weight is becoming common even among children, and doctors are seeing more and more cases of arterial damage, diabetes, etc, among children. It's also harder for children who grow up overweight to get down to a healthy weight later in life.
ReplyDeleteSomething like half the people I see around me every day are overweight, but it has literally been years since I last saw a person who looked unhealthily thin -- even one. So let's not delude ourselves about which of the two problems is more prevalent. Americans probably don't perceive this because the prevalence of overweight people around us is distorting our sense of what the human body is supposed to look like. But what constitutes objective biological health or ill-health doesn't change just because cultural standards change.
A book promoting healthy habits and discouraging unhealthy ones (by, say, discouraging drug use or smoking) would not normally arouse so much discomfiture and opposition. It's curious that people react that way when the health issue is weight.
Oh, and the kid on the book cover is clearly dangerously overweight, and is described as being 14.
More.
Infidel,
ReplyDeleteI think you missed the point on the book. The point in the book was..."going on a diet will make you thin and popular". How many larger people go on diets only to get larger when off the diet? Diets are not a solution. Plain and simple, if the book said "eat better, everything in moderation, exercise, you will like yourself more", it would not be an issue. It says diet to be popular. Seriously! Diet to be popular??? A book does not solve bad parenting.
So, if my neighbor's kids who eat ramen noodles everyday and hotdogs because they are super picky eaters, and the kids are rail thin, it's ok to call them healthy? Can I give these parents a good parenting award for giving them processed foods on a daily basis because they have accomplished to keep skinny kids skinny due malnutrition?
Or how about the kid who is active, eats healthy, everything in moderation, but still cannot fit the skinny jeans? Is it ok that she has become bulimic just to fit into the stereotype that a skinny kid is a popular kid? I know one! It’s painful to see what has happened to her.
I am a huge advocate of eating healthy. That is why the book bothers me. Dieting is not eating healthy.
BTW…Where do you live that nobody is thin? I see overly thin almost sickly thin teenage kids everywhere. Even many adults who are unhealthy looking, thin. Of course, I see the chubby and way too chubby ones too…but wow! Not any really thin people? Many people are blinded by the size “0” being normal.
Now that I had my say...I must make my every other day trip to get fresh fruits and veggies for my family. Yes, I really do practice what I preach.
It says diet to be popular.
ReplyDeleteLook, the prevalence of overweight among children is getting to the point of being a national emergency. I'm in favor of using any approach that's likely to be effective. Some young people who are unmoved by warnings about health problems may well respond to messages about popularity. As I recall, some anti-smoking messages also made use of the fact that smoking is socially unpopular.
Also, not everybody who loses weight on a diet gains it back. In fact, changing unhealthy eating habits is the only effective way of losing weight in most cases. If some people have trouble sticking with that (as many obviously do), we should give them more and different encouragement and motivation, not give up. Losing excess weight, like quitting smoking, is very difficult, but essential.
Hey 753- Nice to see ya here!
ReplyDeleteOkay, okay, NOW I know why this book is taking on so much controversy!
I don't know, I think everyone needs a big pot of decaf and reflect on what's important to us as individual families. Unfortunately, there are many parents who let media and the advertisers dictate what to buy no matter if it's good for the whole or not. It's about education. The more you know, right?
I think my coffee is ready...
BIG thumbs down on the book for taking the diet angle and the popularity angle. It would be something different if the book's focus was on healthy eating and healthy living and creating an improved self-image. It is another thing, altogether, to talk about diets and popularity in regards to girls.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to take a guess, the people who favor this book tend not to have ever had a true weight problem. They may not understand the negative, life long psychological damage the wrong message about dieting can cause girls, in particular.
I know quite a few very thin girls. I know two anorexics, and one is in therapy for excessive dieting. This book treads on dangerous territory. It should stick to healthy habits. Besides, health research indicates that people who loose weight and keep it off haven't so much gone on diets, but have changed their lifestyle to a healthier one. Thus, create a book for kids to promote healthy eating and exercise and self-image, and the healthy weight may follow.
Personally, I'm not a fan. There are many other ways to teach kids about healthy choices and lifestyle. I don't think the word "diet" is good for anyone - young or old.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic. I lean with infidel and anonymous on this. I think this book is trying to solve the problem with a different approach. The others ways do not seem to be working. But to be fair -- the problem is also the content of our food supply, the quality of our meal preparation and the time constraints on parents. Children are learning from parents. And I see parents eat huge portions. People freak out if I allow my son to feel his hunger before I feed him. I see kids constantly an arms reach away from food -- usually processed snacks. Parents are very complicit in that. I think if we took things slower in our culture and prioritized nutrition with shorter work days we would see serious changes in diet with more energy put into living instead of eating!
ReplyDeleteI think the word "diet" has to be revamped. A diet is actually that which one eats. If one calls a "diet" not eating whatever you want, then why not always be on the good "diet" where you always curtail and monitor what you eat. The only way to avoid overweight is to limit sugar, and obviously, fat. When you get older, no amount of exercise will erase that fact.
ReplyDelete