Debate: Are diet books healthy for kids? | Blog

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Debate: Are diet books healthy for kids?

A new children's book has sparked a hot debate across the Internet over whether or not kids should be encouraged to diet. The book, Maggie Goes On A Diet, written by Paul Kramer, is about a 14-year-old girl who "is transformed from being overweight and insecure to a normal sized teen who becomes the school soccer star," reports TIME.

Kramer has received a lot of backlash for the fact that his "diet" book is aimed at young children, and could foster a negative self-image. At the same time, some critics are praising Maggie Goes On A Diet for its emphasis on a healthy lifestyle and for creating a role model children can look up to.

Unfortunately, with the rise of childhood obesity, I don't think Kramer's book and it's theme are completely unwarranted. According to the Childhood Obesity Foundation, approximately 26 percent of Canadian children are currently overweight and obese.

But is it really up to children to change their eating habits and watch their weight? Or is this something that parents should be held responsible for?

Posted by Melissa Greer onThursday, August 25th, 2011 - 3:22pm

5 Comments

I agree with Sam all the way. We eat healthy and watch our portions. We don't allow junk food in our house except for special occations. Yet we are all over weight. Why? It's in our genes. Look at the growth charts and you will see that Dutch and Germans are taller and heavier then any other nationallity. This does not mean that ALL Dutch and Germans are over weight but we tend to weigh more then what the "chart" says.

As for this book this crap. Diet has no place in a growing body. Chidren need proper nutrition. I am a home schooler and I teach my child all about healthy eating. Good food from bad food and why bad food is not in our house. This is fine and should be taught in schools. However this is not taught and probably never will be. The government has gone too far in other areas that it has strayed from important learning.

Submitted by Sara on Mon, 2011-09-05 10:48am.

Maggie might go on a diet & might even lose weight, but her life won't be magically transformed, unfortunately. I agree bad nutrition choices on her parents behalf might be to blame, but so could underlying self esteem issues. I know I've been there. Good reading for kids, no.

Submitted by Jacqueline on Mon, 2011-08-29 1:34pm.

People are always quick to judge those who are overweight and blame their excess weight on lack of will power and overeating. The issues are far more complicated than that. I think it is a step in the right direction to teach children how to eat better. If they understood about calories, nutrition and exercise and how they could use these tools then maybe they would want to be healthier. Simply stating that diets are unhealthy for children and doing nothing about the problem is harming today's youth. Nutrition should be covered in schools; give kids a fighting chance against companies that advertise unhealthy food.

Submitted by Sam on Mon, 2011-08-29 1:32pm.

As a slim, very fit adult, I am shocked at the high percentage of obesity in everyone, not just kids. What I find interesting is that people seem to have no problem mentioning it if someone is, in their opinion, too thin, but GOD FORBID anyone says something about another being overweight...What's up with that?
This book sounds like a great idea, but I bet it won't be long before the Politically Correct Police banish it. Alot of kids are overweight and need to be told so so they can get healthy and live longer. If that upsets the ultra fragile self-esteem of today's coddled generation, so be it. Cheers to the brave author and publishers!!! And yes, parents should set an example...but the book is still a great idea.

Submitted by SweetMarie123 on Mon, 2011-08-29 12:58pm.

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