A public outcry is questioning the subtle messages sent to children regarding a new book which will target little girls as young as six years old to ‘go on a diet.’ The book titled, Maggie Goes on a Diet by Paul Kramer is about an overweight, 14 year old insecure girl who transforms into a soccer star after dieting while emphasizing a gain in a positive self image with her newly ‘normal size’ appearance.The public concern is a possible unhealthy connection between dieting with a positive self esteem and popularity.
On Tuesday (August 23), Kramer defended the book on Good Morning America (click here to view video).
Couples dealing with eating disorders and unhealthy eating habits may transfer their inner issues through subtle, indirect actions and behaviors, which may include suggestive diet books for their children.
Self image blocks bias blocks reality with double standards
THE CONTROVERSY
According to the director of the Eating Disorders Program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Cynthia Bulik, the title sends the wrong message, emphasizing dieting instead of healthy eating. Conversely, Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior editor of FoxNews.com, states he thinks the book has a positive theme and will not ‘create anorexia in 5 year olds.’
Kramer states he does not advocate children should go on a diet but have a change of lifestyle.
It is reported 1 in 3 children are overweight or obese in America giving rise to the suggestion from medical professionals to remove obese children from their familial environment to combat the unhealthy eating patterns. This comes at a time when the current debate fosters a possible traumatic separation due to the parents’ poor nutritional choices versus providing educational resources on nutrition to parents of obese children. Kramer’s book appears to add to the obesity and nutritional concerns by transferring partial responsibility to young girls via the diet book.
The outcry of the book’s message combined with the threat of family separation is bringing awareness to childhood obesity, nutrition and eating disorders.
A diet book for little girls brings outrage
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