Opinion of Maggie goes on a diet? With American childhood obesity hitting record levels.

[Anonymous]

what is your opinion on the new children's book "Maggie goes on a Diet?"

It tells the tale of an insecure 14-year-old who sheds excess weight through diet, hard work, and exercise. The book isn't scheduled to be published until October, but retailers are taking preorders - and a whole lot of negative comments from people who fear the book might influence kids to have eating disorders.

Are people so hyper-sensitive about being called fat, that they would rather whip up fake hysteria about book-induced-anorexia?

Is it similar to the way Jaime Oliver's School Dinners program tried to highlight the shocking eating habits of children, only to meet his sternest detractors in the forms of the parents of these hyper-obese children, who refused to hear a word said against their overweight and unhealthy children?

What do you GAG members think?

Are any of you overweight now, and wish someone had tried to teach you better eating habits when you were younger?

Are any of you overweight and convinced that dieting is pointless? That it's all genetics and/or there's nothing wrong with being overweight?

[Darkfairie17]

As for maggie goes on a diet, I think the book is trying to do something good, but I think that it fails to really get at the heart of the issue. It focuses more on the fact that there is something wrong with maggie because she is overweight. Now being overweight is not healthy, nor am I condoning it. But I think the book would be more effective if they focussed on maggie wanting to be more healthy and seeking out a healthier lifestyle rather than focusing just on the weight itself. Because there is more to health than weight. The book basically equates being fat with being unpopular and unable to do things. Which isn't really true. There is not really a whole lot of things I can't do from being overweight. So I think that is a misrepresentation.

I know when I was first diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, the dr. was afraid to really say anything about my weight because he was afraid of causing me a complex. The weight was gained from the hypothyroidism, I was undiagnosed for a few years. But, I think that kids should definitely learn about proper nutrition. I don't know about anyone else, but I see a whole lot of people growing up thinking chips and pop make for an excellent lunch. It's just obscene, chips and pop for me are a once in a while treat. Even then, I try to limit what I can eat when I am allowed to enjoy them.

I grew up with home-made meals, I rarely ate processed foods. I would come home from school and we would have a delicious healthy meal waiting. I think dieting has it's place, but for me it has not been effective. But again, I have a disorder, my body is not working properly at the moment so it makes it worse. I have no idea what normal is, since I haven't been normal for most of my life.

I really like what Jamie Oliver is doing though, I mean some of the lunches kids are forced to eat, I can't even imagine. If I had to eat that everyday I would literally be 500lbs. Processed, high sugar, high calorie foods should have no place in schools. Feed them healthy, un-processed or low-processed foods.

[Misty_04]

I don't live in America but I watched the show Jamie Oliver produced and I was shocked at how afraid people are of change and their need to deny or turn their back on obesity in schools. I think they could have renamed the book "maggie decides to eat healthier" (bad title I know :p) or something. The word diet seems to be connected with eating disorders in todays society. I think it's very important to tackle this early on. I grew up in a family of health orientated people so I've never had any weight issues but I really believe it's important and if a book can help then that's great. However how can you be sure that schools will even stock this book or allow children to read it?

[Prof_Don]

I find it ridiculous that such an awesome idea for a childrens' book is being challenged.

Here is an angle that I don't think has been touched on:

If such a book is on the market, and is popularized in school, the kids will be motivated to talk about the book they read, to their parents. And the parents are usually overweight as well.

The DENIAL of the parents saying "i don't need to lose weight"...VERY WELL could be a cause for all this backlash by the parents. And yes, I believe the HIGH majority of the challengers of this book are overweight parents.

I've been over 300lbs since I was abt 13. Both of my parents are overweight so it was "normal", it wasn't something discussed. We didn't even have a scale in our house. Talk about eating "healthy", or health in general, wasn't a discussion topic in my household. Whenever I weighed myself I would think "that scale MUST be wrong; I can't seriously be "off the scale" weight-wise".

IF this book was out when I was in grade school, the idea about healthy eating and weight loss would be planted in my head. I'd come back home and say "mommy, guess what we read today?" Then the subject about being healthier would be BROUGHT UP in the first place.

I can imagine the overweight parents that go through this scenario and talk about "how insensitive the book is", because the idea of them facing their weight problem would be exposed.

Hopefully this made sense. :)

[WeaponZero]

i think that parents and the public are right to worry about whether or not kids end up with eating disorders. but that doesn't mean they can't educate them about proper nutrition and healthy living. see that's the thing. they only understand the extremes. they think that if you're not letting them eat whatever and blow up like a balloon, you're going to force them into eating disorders and low self esteem. there IS a middle ground there and this book might just be that.

i used to be obese at 335 lbs. I was skinny as a kid but starting when I was around 16 or so I began putting on weight. I was always an unhealthy eater, just my metabolism didn't start to catch up with me until then. I eventually ballooned out to 335 lbs in my 20s. when I was 28 I began trying to improve my lifestyle. I eventually dropped down to 215 lbs but then I started focusing more on building muscle than just losing weight, and gained back 10 lbs, which puts me at where I am now. I'm healthy, but I'm looking to improve. and I can honestly say that due to my fitness level alone my quality of life has improved greatly. dieting is not pointless. and yes I do have genetics working against me because my mother is obese as well at 5'2" and roughly 250 lbs.

[proudtexasgirl]

"see that's the thing. they only understand the extremes. they think that if you're not letting them eat whatever and blow up like a balloon, you're going to force them into eating disorders and low self esteem."

I definitely agree.

[proudtexasgirl]

I think parents should be more worried about our FAT country rather than a book that tries to promote healthy eating and fitness. Our country is way too oversensitive and easily offended. It's not a matter of either a kid being obese or a kid being anorexic - a healthy kid isn't going to have an eating disorder. That's the word people are missing - healthy. While I don't think one sole book will solve our problems, it can help, and it can be used as a good tool for parents and educators. Kids don't understand calories and carbs, but they do understand stories with colorful images.

[NothingGoldCanStay]

Nail... you hit it. People today are too sensitive and can't take facts. I hate when you get called an a**hole when you critize fat people (especially young fat people). They are and it is all fast food and over eating to blame. It is kind like when I had acne, I thought it was fine there was nothing I could do about it I was going to be a loser all my life. Then a good friend of mine indirectly said, I hate when I see hot chick great body, then you see her face and she has acne. Nowadays you can always fix that. It stung and he quickly realized who he was talking to but it made me focus on getting it treated and now I am almost 100% acne free :D

[goflipaburger]

Being overcritical of anything makes you look like an a**hole. If you feel like you have the right to criticize them, they are within full liberty to return criticism to you.

If you want to be helpful and factual, be helpful and factual; not critical.

[goflipaburger]

I do see child obesity as an issue, but its so beyond a child's ability to know how to stay fit. Most cities and states don't sell really fruits and vegetables, meat is the primary food that is being consumed by America, parents are too busy working to sit and make their kids a healthy balanced meal, the school lunches are packed with calories and aren't even healthy or appetizing, and its becoming more and more difficult for families to buy healthy snacks.

The book will most certainly help, I read fitness books and dieting books to my students all the time; but depending on what other obstacles they're facing, odds are they won't absorb it as well as they would if things were all around easier.

[NothingGoldCanStay]

What people need to realize and that constructive critisism can do a million times more good than false compliments. That is why I put the example of my acne, I would still have it if I didn't have someone constructively critize it. Hey you can change it man it is all about getting it treated. I feel it is a good motivator having people not forget that you can change things.

[udolipixie]

What do you GAG members think?

That parents need to teach nutrition & encourage joining sports

That schools should serve healthy meals and ensure kids have 30 minutes of activity a day.

[Asker]

Good point that both schools and parents share some responsibility here.

[dtaijo174]

As much as I agree that parents should be teaching these things, but 62% are over weight according to Web MD. Is ti really that bad for kids to read how to exercise properly and waht foods to eat at school?

[7gnat]

I'm not overweight but I am 100% sure that if I had a kid they would not be grossly overweight. It would be nice to see parents actually pretend that they have kids and watch what they eat etc. Sadly if a kid is overweight by that young age he is most likely doomed by a bad environment and or bad genetics, I don't see any book helping but I would not be upset if and when it comes out.

[FierceMegan]

I don't think the book is the issue. I think people are the issue. It's like sex in movies. I have been watching rated R films since I am 6 or 7. I never once acted the way they did in the movie because my mom always talked to my sister and I about everything. I think parents have to realize that they are the biggest influence in their children's lives.

[MrWrong]

I think that 30 years from now, we'll look back on public service announcements and books like this the same way we do to 1950's psa's.

Sometimes I wish there were a law that states parents must have a certain level of emotional maturity before they are allowed to bear crotchfruit. There's just this minor issue of the Constitution blocking such a law.

[dtaijo174]

I just posted stats on GAG yesterday from Web MD. 62% of the US pop. Is overweight with I think it was 32% obese. The health problems associated with being overweight are numerous! We should be encouraging people & children to learn how to diet & exercise the correct way.

the negative criticisms from the media are nothing more than sensationalizing a story to get an audience. It's too bad really...

[Anonymous]

I'm not over weight and neither is my husband. I do think that it is not going to be a books job to help the kid with his nutrients and vitamins but mostly parents and school. I also think that those who are too skinny shouldn't rub it in the face of those who can't help but be overweight (genetics or poor diet due to circumstances like health issues). Anyways I'm 120 and 5'3 and my husband is extremely thin at 130 and 5'9 so we don't have obesity issues at all.

[Asker]

All nice and interesting, but what do you think of the book? Good idea? Bad idea? A useful tool?

[Opinion Owner]

I said I don't think the book should be the useful tool or that the book should be used that much for people who are having problems with weight. I think parents and the school should just educate kids on how to eat and exercise.

[Asker]

Okay, thanks for clarifying.