We don’t need to see statistics to know that childhood obesity is on the rise. From pudgy preschoolers to overweight tweens and teens, it’s pretty obvious. In fact, when I recently saw a large group of high schoolers at an event, I was a little shocked to see that almost none of them were a normal, healthy weight. Several of them were dangerously underweight and many more were packing on extra pounds. What gives? It seems like there’s a disconnect between our supposedly healthy lifestyle of this decade and these facts.
With the prevalence of eating disorders and mean kids who can harm children’s self-esteem, parents and doctors are often afraid to broach the subject with parents and teens, but the facts are that being overweight does hurt a child’s self-esteem, their general well-being (not being able to run and play like a lot of other kids), and their health, with diabetes and other typically adult concerns like heart and gall-bladder disease and asthma become more and more common in kids.
Ricki Lake wrote Too Small to be Big with pediatrician Dr. John Monaco to address these issues, not only from the viewpoint of a mother who was once an overweight teen, but with the years of talk show experience that helped her learn to put the right people together and to ask the right questions
The book is wonderfully informative, taking a non-judgmental approach that encourages parents to take ownership of the problem. It’s not a diet plan, but it does educate kids and parents on things like portion control, fast versus slow carbs, and ideas for kid-friendly foods that are also health-conscious for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It is repeatedly stressed that the All-Stride solution is not a diet plan. There are a lot of reasons that kids are overweight. Oftentimes it is eating the wrong foods, but sometimes it’s the right foods in the wrong portion sizes, or the lack of any sort of exercise. Getting moving is a component of the program — ideally one that the whole family will get involved in together.
The book is an overview of the All-Stride program created by Ricki Lake and her team of experts. Someone could definitely get instruction and motivation from the book alone, but I have a feeling that if this was an issue that a family wanted to address, that they’d want to join the website to get additional benefits from recipes and support.
We have a copy of Too Small to be Big to give away to one of you today. Please leave a comment here if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner on June 1. This Giveaway is Closed.
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Jennifer Donovan blogs at Snapshot about life with her family, when she’s not too busy reading and reviewing.
Wow – great subject. I think she will have good insight to share, as she had her own struggles and overcame them. Good timing and very relevent.
Amazing how Ricki Lake became smaller – and stayed that way! This seems like an important book!
I am currently dealing with this issue in my extended family. This book would seriously help the discussion that needs to happen.
Paige — you won. Please reply to this email notification to send me your shipping info.
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer for that lovely review!
John
I would love to read this! Pick me!
I am dealing with this situation. My 11 year old weights 50 pounds more than I do. It’s hard to find the right balance of healthy food. We have different requirements. I deliver mail and walk 10 miles a day for 6 hours I need the carbs, calories etc. she does not. Our needs our different. I have bought many books and programs but my daughter wouldn’t eat most the stuff suggested nor would I. I need healthy but delicious ideas.
Thanks for the chance to get motivated by this book.
Sounds very interesting 🙂
I am very excited about this book and program, Thank you Ricki Lake and Dr.John Monaco for writting a book on such an important issue ! I have a family member that is 8 yrs old and weighs 125 pounds I would love to get this book and program for his mom and him to read! I agree with Jennifer They need to get out and get moving, eat right and spend less time in front of the video games. Thanks again !
Very actual book
I truly admire the work you are doing to help young children with obesity. My 9 year old granddaughter has a problem with her weight and carries most of it in her stomach. While shopping the other day, she expressed how much she hated this thing (pointing to abdomen). She is an active child and basically eats good quality foods (few junk foods), it has more to do with the quantity. She just loves food. Most events/celebrations/family gatherings revolve around the table and this makes it more difficult to control. Thank you again for your interest in this concern.