Maggie Goes On a Diet is about to be released.
The book is aimed (according to Amazon) at children aged 6 and up. The story is about " a 14 year old girl who goes on a diet and is transformed from being extremely overweight and insecure to a normal sized girl who becomes the school soccer star. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image."
I can say right now - I won't be buying this for my daughter. She has already picked up enough messages about dieting - be it from ads, TV programs, or overheard conversations with her peers. It's not a message that I will reinforce.
We talk about the need to try and eat good foods when we can, and to try our best to keep active and move our bodies. She needs gentle encouragement in these areas.
I have seen the results of young girls dieting very early, and the outcomes are not good - with food becoming the object of obsession and control later on in life.
By all means we need to educate our children on good eating habits, and enjoying physical activity. But does Maggie really need to slim down so she can fit in that dress Mommy bought for her? I don't think so.
Maggie Goes on A Diet available from Amazon.
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