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 Sylvia Rimm, Eric Rimm Rodale Press, Incorporated From A Press Release Book Description The obesity epidemic among America’s children is no longer a secret. In the past 25 years, we’ve seen the percentage of overweight children nearly triple, with no signs of slowing down. But even as physicians and researchers are beginning to understand the terrible physical toll that this weight gain is having on our children, the emotional difficulties that these children suffer has to be fully understood. The idea of overweight kids getting teased on the playground is something we’ve come to expect. But, after doing exhaustive research, noted child psychologist Dr. Sylvia Rimm shows that the psychological problems these children face are much more serious than expected—their weight affects every aspect of their emotional life: from home to school to their optimism for the future. There have been many books and articles addressing the issue of children and obesity from a nutritional/exercise perspective, but RESCUING THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN: What Our Kids Go Through—And How We Can Help by Dr. Sylvia Rimm is the first book to focus on the very real and far-ranging emotional hardships overweight children endure. Beginning with a first-of-its-kind survey of over 5,400 middle grade students from 18 states, Dr. Rimm tells us that, compared to normal weight children, kids who consider themselves overweight report being:
“As a psychologist who works with children and adolescents, I understand and empathize with the incredible sorrows these children feel. I know directly from their parents, their teachers, and their own sad voices the psychological abuses they suffer. But even I was astonished at the depth of these children’s suffering and how their weight affects nearly every aspect of their lives,” says Dr. Rimm. In RESCUING THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN, Dr. Rimm examines the causes and effects of this problem, and provides expert advice that parents and other caregivers can put into practice. She explores how children’s weight problems affect their social and emotional adjustment, particularly their self-confidence, self-descriptions, and attitudes toward their peers; looks at the unexpected impact on the academic confidence and achievement of overweight compared with average-weight children, and offers strategies for inspiring confidence and reversing underachievement; compares the interests and activities of overweight children with those of average-weight children, and gives advice for energizing children toward physical activities; discusses the developmental and sexual maturity issues that increase problems for heavy children, and helps parents guide children in coping with these; and details problematic family scenarios that actually foster weight problems in children and shows how to change those scenarios for the better. Dr. Rimm points out how children’s overweight can cause parents to resent their children and create love/hate relationships between parent and overweight child. Dr. Rimm’s “Six-Step Healthy Rescue Plan” lays out six goals that start parents on the path to rescuing the emotional life of their overweight child. Each step incorporates rescue techniques that are described in other parts of the book. The Six-Step Healthy Rescue Plan 1. Be a coach, instead of a judge 2. Go for the goal 3. Recruit additional support 4. Design a nutritional plan 5. Organize an exercise effort 6. Celebrate strengths Written for adults who are involved with children of all ages, from preschool to middle and high schools, RESCUING THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN is a vital work. It presents a framework for helping overweight children escape from the emotional prisons they may find themselves in—offering them hope that they may live up to their potential and make significant contributions to society. It is also an important tool to be used toward stemming the serious national epidemic of obesity that has grave consequences for future health problems. About the Author: Sylvia Rimm, PhD, is a noted child psychologist who directs Sylvia Rimm’s Family Achievement Clinic in Cleveland and is a clinical professor at Case School of Medicine. Her books include See Jane Win, a New York Times bestseller, and Growing Up Too Fast. A syndicated newspaper columnist and favorite personality on public radio, Dr. Rimm has also appeared on 20/20, NBC’s Today Show, and Weekend Today. She and her husband reside in Cleveland, Ohio. Eric Rimm, ScD, is a nutritional epidemiologist on the faculty of the Harvard School of Public Health, where he’s served since 1992. His research focuses on diet and lifestyle choices in relation to risk of obesity and chronic disease. He has published more than 200 articles in medical journals and has received research grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association. Return to the Dr. Laura Reading Corner |
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