Diet book for kids blasted for giving "dangerous" advice

Maggie Goes on a Diet, by Paul Kramer

/ Amazon.com

(CBS) A new children's book on one girl's struggle with obesity is cooking up controversy.

Maggie Goes on a Diet, by Paul Kramer, tells the tale of an insecure 14-year-old who sheds excess weight through diet, hard work, and exercise. The book isn't scheduled to be published until October, but retailers are taking preorders - and a whole lot of negative comments from people who fear the book might influence kids to have eating disorders.

"PLEASE!!! If anyone has a heart get this book banned!" one user, wrote on Amazon.com. "This dangerous belief could encourage bullying and foster eating disorders," added another.

Kramer defended his book to ABC News."My intentions were just to write a story to entice and to have children feel better about themselves, discover a new way of eating, learn to do exercise, try to emulate Maggie and learn from Maggie's experience," he told Good Morning America. "Children are pretty smart ... they will make a good choice if you give them that opportunity."

What do childhood obesity experts have to say?

Dr. Andrea Vazzana, clinical assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at NYU Langone Medical Center, told CBS News that she thought the book had one positive in that it brought attention to how young kids are teased over their weight - but added she was "startled" to learn the book was aimed at young children.

"I think that's just too young," she said. "Even if a child at that age is overweight, a 4-to 8-year-old can't do much about it without the parent's help."

So what's the right way to get a child to lose weight?

Dr. Alyson B. Goodman, pediatrician and medical epidemiologist with the CDC, told CBS News in an email that the onus should be put on parents.

Goodman said parents should serve as role models at home by serving up lots of fruits and vegetables while limiting fatty, sugary foods. "Parents can also limit screen time - including television, video games and computers - to help reduce sedentary time and avoid exposure to food advertising," she said.

Vazzana agreed parents should have a major role, but cautioned that a talk about weight could may not be effective, and the child can tune out the parent's message. "Rather than a big talk, seize opportunities as they come up to talk about healthy living," she said. Vazzana suggests turning that conversation into a "family project" where the whole family eats healthier, since overweight kids often have overweight siblings and parents.

What do you think? Is obesity off-limits in children's books?

[amerilatino]

I learned during childhood that the best therapies for chubby kids were martial arts and weight training, in a gradual step program. Not for weight-loss mind you, but to foster the physical and mental capability to promise harm to those insisting on harassment and bullying, and to mean it. After years of torment as a little boy, I have marveled from my adolescence to this day how a bit of inflicted pain can do wonders to adjust the attitude of a troublemaker.

[srcanada]

I worked at a company that was developing a diet pill for two years.
In that time I learned about how much obesity and the health effects that it leads to (diabetes, cardiovascular disease) is affecting our nation and especially our children.

On the other hand, I grew up in a culture that was trying to balance the popular idea of us all having a certain body type; with the reality of our variability...and that variability is OK. I have personally seen how mean and unfair people can be to the overwieght AND how warped people's perceptions of their bodies can become. I think that having a healthy body is the goal we should be working towards. no matter what shape.

[Xfildchild]

Anyone who thinks this book is a good idea either doesn't have kids or is a bigot. A "war on childhood obesity" is a war on obese children, and a war on any child is wrong. This book is specifically geared towards small children, and sends the clear message to them nice and early that they should be ashamed of their bodies if they are not thin, and that none of their accomplishments matter unless they are thin. We have enough trouble repairing the self-esteem of our young girls without this book adding to the problem. If the book stressed healthy habits instead of weight loss, then that would be great. Instead of a war on obese children, how about a celebration of healthy choices? Healthy people come in all shapes and sizes (and so do unhealthy people). By focusing on healthy behavior, we eliminate body shaming and size discrimination.

[rf35]

Children SHOULD be ashamed of their bodies if they are obese, and none of their accomplishments matter unless they maintain a healthy weight because the fruits of those accomplishments will be of little comfort when early-onset diabetes sets in or they wind up in an early grave because they weren't taught to eat right and exercise. Healthy eating and exercise are parts of a lifestyle that must be taught early in childhood if it has any chance of being maintained into adulthood.

[Fatesrider]

"Children are pretty smart ... they will make a good choice if you give them that opportunity."

Not in my experience.

[sonocarri]

As long as the book discusses healthy eating and exercise, how is it encouraging eating disorders and bullying? Childhood obesity is a real problem. Unfortunately, most of the parents of these children are extremely overweight as well. You rarely see a healthy parent with an obese child. So, I have no problem with a book that speaks directly to the child. The parents of these kids are obviously not speaking to them.

[buckn]

On one hand, people are upset at the number of obese kids in the US. On the other hand, people are upset if anyone tries to do anything about it. Go figure.

[pak31]

Don't buy the book then if you are against it. It's that simple. I hardly think the author is printing a book telling young kids that they have to look a certain size or that they are fat etc. It just sounds like something to encourage them to make better food and excersize choices. People are freaking out about this book, yet I see many many families eating out every night. I see quite a few kids that are overweight and just shake my head, out of sadness mainly, because they don't have to look like that. So as long as we aren't being forced into anything here then I see no problems.

[rf35]

I think childhood obesity qualifies as an "eating disorder" and should be grounds for child abuse charges as well. In any case, I can't really say much without reading the book but it looks like it could be an important tool to help obese children and maybe prevent some kids from becoming overweight in the first place!

[maryand5653]

As an educator and mother of a recovering Eating Disorder child, I find the theme of this book to be totally inappropirate for students to read, not just for the age group targetted in the book, but for younger readers as well. The media is constantly emphasizing the need to be thin, and this can have a detrimental effect on the child, family and society both physically, emotionally, and financially. Young readers are very impressionable and with all the reality tv, peer pressure, and dismorphic emphasis on body image that is surrounding children today, it is extremely dishearting to see that an "author" and publisher would publish this book and not feel that it would have a negative impact on children. I hope more teachers, school nurses, and guidance counselors help to ban this book from reaching the hands of impressionable readers.

[mecury69]

So, we should accept the burgeoning problem with childhood obesity due to the potential for eating disorders?

That's like ignoring seat belts because people can be trapped by them in the event their vehicle is submerged under water.

No books should banned...ever. What are you? A nazi?

[fittinguy]

Much ado about nothing. We all know that today's children are overweight. If reading this book helps a few of them learn to eat and live healthier, that is a good thing. The critics are entiled to their opinions, because just like a big butt,we all have one!!!