Maggie Goes On a Diet

trini14

I saw this on Goodmorning America, it seems there is some controversy about this book here is the synopsis:

Taken from Amazon.com

Product Description
This book 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.

It seems people are judging this book by it's cover, so to speak. Apparently people are saying it's sending the wrong message, but what about shows such as 16 and pregnant, Jersey Shore, Tiaras and Tots or whatever that ridiculous show is. I'll read this book. I applause his author, sometimes people are afraid to talk about such subjects.

In seeing some of these pictures on Good Morning America, I can relate, I wasn't that overweight but I wished to smaller, I was teased too. I think people are put off by the word "diet". The author (Paul Kramer) made a good point, " of I asked you what your daily diet consisted of what would you say?" Apparently someone stated why not call it Maggie Eats Healthy? He stated if you see it in a book shelf would you look at it, I may or may not, but the cover will grab your attention, I've done it.

So how do you feel about it? Sorry if this topic has been posted? I'm writing this on my iPhone and I'm not the fastest typist on this thing, lol.

QuestForFitness

I watched this too. I posted a big rant on my blog about it. But not in the way you'd really think.. I actually came to MFP to make a post on this very thing.

Check out my blog if you'd like and let me know what you think. I'm not sure we're getting upset with the right person, despite his presentation of it I think Paul Kramer had the best of intentions

trini14

I agree I'll check out your blog

tashjs21

A friend had a discussion about this on Facebook yesterday.

Basically, my feelings are the word diet should never be used when it comes to children. A title like "Maggie gets healthy" seems much more appropriate to me.

And the book cover illustration is not healthy for building confidence in a little girls body image. :explode:

starwhisperer

I will have to look it up, but from what you say it sounds like a good influence to me. I agree about the 16 and pregnant and jersey shores, or any other number of shows that teen girls are watching. I would much rather my 12 year old daughter become interested in a book promoting a healthy lifestyle, and self esteem stemming from hard work; than to get caught up in the idea that disney is selling that everyone (even those with no talent) can some day be super stars.

tashjs21

For those that haven't seen the cover



I don't think this is healthy for young girls. As adults we have the ability to realize that a goal is a goal and we have also had time to look at our body and set realistic goals for our body shapes.

What if this girl has hips and a big chest when she hits puberty and this skinny minny in the mirror is not attainable?

We should definitely be teaching our children about nutrition and being active but focusing on a certain body image is not the way to do it.

trini14

Thanks for posting the cover art of the book Natasha26 I honestly dont see a problem with the cover, maybe since I did it when I was younger, did it through High School, and heck I have a dress hanging up that I have as initiative/motivator. We all do it, children are no different. I think he chose this cover art because we all can relate.

I want to share this, I almost cried after seeing this patient, young girl 14-15 maybe, with alot of problems. She weighed maybe 115-120, maybe even smaller and was 5'5-5'6". She was not overweight by ANY means. She's on the HCG diet !!!! I couldn't not say anything to her. I told that she didn't need to lose weight, if she felt she needed to lose weight there was healthier ways, she stated her mom is doing it with her, huh!!!!???? Great parenting. She didnt even seem concerned, that I was saddened by.

I agree with you Natasha26 we do have to teach our children about nutrition and eating healthy, its not all about fried this and that.........

morganhccstudent724

I think the title is a little disturbing...

And from a girl who will never see 135 because I have hips and boobs. And I can starve myself and they aren't ever going to go away. I also had parents who told me I was beautiful no matter what...and I believed them. I worry for young girls who don't have supportive parents or anyone telling them they are beautiful. The title scares me a bit for girls who aren't so self confident....

TheRoadDog

People are only distrubed by it because "Diet" is perceived as a negative term. We're all on a diet. Some are on a healthy diet. Some are on an unhealthy diet.

If your child needs to be on a restricted calorie diet, then do it. Helping them lose weight is not going to be any harder on their self-esteem than being called fat by classmates or not being able to join in any physical activities because they are out of shape.

Didn't mean to say out of shape. I meant "physically challenged".

We're all so afraid of being politically correct, that we don't really address the real problems. Sometimes little Johnny and little Susie need to turn off the TV, put down the twinkie and go outside and play. Not play, I meant "interact with their peers."

trini14

People are only distrubed by it because "Diet" is perceived as a negative term. We're all on a diet. Some are on a healthy diet. Some are on an unhealthy diet.

If your child needs to be on a restricted calorie diet, then do it. Helping them lose weight is not going to be any harder on their self-esteem than being called fat by classmates or not being able to join in any physical activities because they are out of shape.

Didn't mean to say out of shape. I meant "physically challenged".

We're all so afraid of being politically correct, that we don't really address the real problems. Sometimes little Johnny and little Susie need to turn off the TV, put down the twinkie and go outside and play. Not play, I meant "interact with their peers."

I agree 100% my that's what's wrong today were in a sugar coat society that everybody had to be appeased. But I do firmly believe in handling children and their feeling with extreme care.

CasperO

I was a fat kid, with fat parents. We all ate fried cheese and sat on the couch and watched TV - 'cause that's just what we did. "You're not getting up 'til you clean your plate!" That was our world, we didn't really understand any other way to be. I was teased and called fatty and I have scars that will never go away.

I remember this convo with my wife:
"Why was she staring - do I have a stain or something?"

---

No,,, you're just pretty hot in that shirt,,,

<<Huh? What?!?!,,, I couldn't even imagine it. When you feel fat & ugly for a couple of decades it doesn't just go away when you get into 32" waist jeans.>>

If my parents had been vegan triathletes I would have been trim and healthy too. I wish they had been. I wish I'd grown up in a healthy lifestyle and not had to figure it out for myself when I was 40 years old. We did better with our kids, and maybe they'll do even better with theirs.

I too wish the title was "Maggie gets healthy", but I have no problem with this book.

tashjs21

People are only distrubed by it because "Diet" is perceived as a negative term. We're all on a diet. Some are on a healthy diet. Some are on an unhealthy diet.

If your child needs to be on a restricted calorie diet, then do it. Helping them lose weight is not going to be any harder on their self-esteem than being called fat by classmates or not being able to join in any physical activities because they are out of shape.

Didn't mean to say out of shape. I meant "physically challenged".

We're all so afraid of being politically correct, that we don't really address the real problems. Sometimes little Johnny and little Susie need to turn off the TV, put down the twinkie and go outside and play. Not play, I meant "interact with their peers."

I agree 100% my that's what's wrong today were in a sugar coat society that everybody had to be appeased. But I do firmly believe in handling children and their feeling with extreme care.

Trust me, I do not believe in our sugar coat society. Things need to be sucked up and gotten over. But I firmly believe that children are a little different. Their self image and self worth is so fragile during those early years. They need support and to be SHOWN how to eat healthy and be active. Yes, I have a huge problem with the word diet. A young girl thinks diet and she thinks depriving herself and going to extremes to get the body she thinks is acceptable.

From what the author says his intent is to show that it takes hard work and time...so I think the title and cover are misleading. And in this case a book is most certainly being judged by its cover so maybe it should reflect what is inside a little better.

As I said, a title like "Maggie gets Healthy" or something to that affect seems more appropiate to me.

martinah4

I saw this on Goodmorning America, it seems there is some controversy about this book here is the synopsis:

Taken from Amazon.com

Product Description
This book 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.

It seems people are judging this book by it's cover, so to speak. Apparently people are saying it's sending the wrong message, but what about shows such as 16 and pregnant, Jersey Shore, Tiaras and Tots or whatever that ridiculous show is. I'll read this book. I applause his author, sometimes people are afraid to talk about such subjects.

In seeing some of these pictures on Good Morning America, I can relate, I wasn't that overweight but I wished to smaller, I was teased too. I think people are put off by the word "diet". The author (Paul Kramer) made a good point, " of I asked you what your daily diet consisted of what would you say?" Apparently someone stated why not call it Maggie Eats Healthy? He stated if you see it in a book shelf would you look at it, I may or may not, but the cover will grab your attention, I've done it.

So how do you feel about it? Sorry if this topic has been posted? I'm writing this on my iPhone and I'm not the fastest typist on this thing, lol.

I haven't read all of the comments on this thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating anyone. My take is that it is completely sad that this book has to be written at all. The book should be, Maggie's Parents Teach Her To Eat Healthy and geared toward adults. It is the parents fault that this Maggie is overweight in the first place. After all, she didn't drive herself to McDonald, pay for the groceries, or make herself meals for 14 years. It is the parents responsibility to look after their childrens health and teach them healthy eating habits.