There is no denying that childhood obesity is an American epidemic, an epidemic that accounts for thirty-three percent of children. Ensuring that children are more active and inspired to live a healthier lifestyle is paramount but a child’s developing psyche and body image is also vital and often overlooked.

Paul Kramer recently published a children’s book Maggie Goes on A Diet, the book tells the story of a fourteen-year old girl who is “transformed from being overweight and insecure to a normal-sized teen who becomes the school soccer star”. As innocent as this sounds, the cover of the book features a heavy-set girl looking in the mirror, holding a small pink dress and admiring a thinner version of herself. I am not exactly sure where dresses fall into becoming a soccer star but apparently it is somehow important enough to grace the front cover.

Being a young woman is difficult. You have to deal with a fast developing body and unhealthy societal standards of beauty from a young age. I could only imagine growing up now; in the age where photo shop is the standard and anything less than that standard is simply not good enough. Perpetuating these ideals to young women is going to continually breed a terrible body image which will only increase instances of bulimia, anorexia and youth-stress.

Encouraging young girls to diet in place of instituting a healthy lifestyle is also only going to instill a desire for instant gratification and incentive. If a healthier lifestyle is emphasized it will promote an aspiration to establish healthier decisions that will lead to overall increased wellness and not just a trimmer waistline. Encouraging overall wellness is not something that will magically occur if the parent’s are not actively leading the lifestyle. The cycle will continue if the issue isn’t tackled at home first. Sadly, the battle over body image will not end well if promoting dieting to six-year olds is encouraged.

Source: All Top

Maggie Goes on A Diet

NOTE: At a loss for an image– sorry..