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May 19, 2005
Fat Book For Kids
It is tough to talk to kids about being overweight, but now there is a new book that can help. Freddy Fights Fat by Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro tells the story of a boy who wakes up one day to find that his pants are surprisingly tight. On the school bus Freddy almost squishes another boy off the seat! In gym class he huffs and puffs around the track and almost throws up at the finish line. Freddy finally has to face the facts... he is getting fat.
The new, colorfully illustrated storybook, written by prominent child psychologist and parenting expert, Dr. Shapiro, addresses America’s increasing number of overweight children and seeks to help children understand the emotional issues of being fat and losing weight.
“Being overweight presents children with significant health risks and mental health risks as well. Freddy Fights Fat was written to help children and adults open a discussion about this difficult and rapidly escalating issue,” Dr. Shapiro said.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s. Data from the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows that 16% or 9 million+ U.S. children ages 6-19 are overweight.
The numbers will continue to increase according to the “Fitness Facts” published in the Center for Disease Control 2004 Annual Health Protection Impact Report, which states:
• Nearly half of Americans 12–21 say they are not regularly and vigorously physically active.
• About 14% of young people report no recent physical activity.
• Participation in all types of physical activity declines as age or grade in school increases.
• Only 19% of all high school students are physically active for 20 minutes or more, 5 days a week in physical education classes.
Addressing the problem of obesity in the book, Freddy gets help from his physical education teacher, his parents, and his pediatrician, who guide him toward developing better eating habits and daily exercise. Although Freddy is tempted by his favorite fattening foods, and he has a few lapses, gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement from others helps him to lose some weight and he gets healthier physically and emotionally.
Freddy Fights Fat is part of the Emotional Literacy Series, being developed by CTC Publishing. The series includes: Arthur Gets Angry, Betty Stops the Bully, Catherine Finds Her Courage, Ethan Has Too Much Energy, and Debra Doesn’t Take the Dare. Each book is designed to help children develop the emotional skills to solve common problems and to lead them towards a happier, healthier, and more successful life. The books also include suggestions for adults to help kids with their specific problems.
Freddy Fights Fat is written for children ages 4-8, and retails for $14.95. This book and other books in the Emotional Literacy Series can be purchased or by calling 1-800-440-4003.
About the Author
Dr. Lawrence E. Shapiro has written dozens of books and games, including How to Raise a Child with a High EQ: A Parents’ Guide to Emotional Intelligence, which has been translated into more than 22 languages. He is a regular guest expert on radio and television.
About CTC Publishing:
CTC Publishing creates products which are designed to enhance family communications, address common problems, and promote healthy living. CTC Publishing is a division of the 10-year old catalog company, Courage To Change.
Posted by at May 19, 2005 11:24 PM
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