| Family & Relationships |
| Parenting |
| Self-help |
| Weight Loss |
| Health & Fitness |
| Diet & Nutrition |
| Children's Health |
| Eating Disorders & Body Image |
Summary
Summary
Help for parents that tackles the real causes of childhood obesity and offers practical solutions. Why Can't My Child Stop Eating examines the emotional roots of overeating and addresses the social, emotional, and physical problems of these children and their families.
With the ever-growing childhood obesity problem, the audience for this book continues to develop. Why Can't My Child Stop Eating? provides parents with specific activities to assist in addressing and healing the emotional aspects of obesity. Currently there is no book on the market that provides assistance in coping with the emotional issues of obesity that offers an emotional recovery plan for children.
Debbie Danowski, PhD, is co-author of the previously published Why Can't I Stop Eating? (Hazelden Publishing, 2000), in which she outlined her personal physical, emotional, and spiritual food addiction recovery program that resulted in her losing more than 150 pounds over seventeen years ago. She is a regular guest on both national and international radio programs. Why Can't I Stop Eating? was Hazelden's best-selling trade book in the summer of 2000. The book is currently in its third printing.
Author Notes
In her previously published book, Why Can't I Stop Eating? co-authored with Dr. Pedro Lazaro (Hazelden 2000), Dr. Danowski outlines her personal physical, emotional, and spiritual food-addiction recovery program, which resulted in her losing more than 150 pounds over 17 years ago. A regular guest on both national and international radio programs, Why Can't I Stop Eating? was Hazelden's best-selling trade book the summer of 2000. The book is currently in its third printing.
Dr. Danowski has written more than 100 articles for national and local publications, including First For Women , Woman's Day , Seventeen , and Fairfield , and serves as a contributing writer for Fairfield County Home magazine. She has also spoken at countless meetings, seminars and conferences about weight loss and food addiction, including Food Addiction 2000, the first national conference held on the disease.
Dr. Danowski is also the advisor to both Sacred Heart University's student newspaper and student magazine, and a member of the university's Eating Disorders Awareness Team. She holds a Ph.D. from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she researched eating behavior in American film, a Master's degree in Public Communications from Syracuse University, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Sacred Heart University.
She resides in Winsted, Connecticut.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In her new book, Dr. Danowski, who conquered her own obesity, states the obvious: the key to overcoming a child's obesity is the initiation of lifestyle changes at home for every member of the family. The basic suggestions cover the gamut of healthy eating, healthy exercise, less sedentary time, and psychologically balanced thoughts about food itself, with parents always at the helm of every new routine. Danowski suggests that a child's orientation to food will change naturally when parents make changes for themselves first. The author goes so far as to suggest banning food-related celebrations and food rewards for good behavior, which she argues are a logical extension of culturally-supported but emotionally and psychologically unhealthy attitudes about food. The author suggests arts and crafts exercises and other routine changes to family activities designed to strengthen the family unit. The goal: creating and understanding positive emotions without the mention or use of food. The author's own extreme approach to healthy eating when shared takes away from her otherwise practical advice. This book will be of value to parents looking for guidance in addressing childhood obesity as an entire family. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Obesity in younger children has tripled since 1980, yet only 20 to 40 percent of cases are believed to have genetic causes. Psychologist Danowski, who suffered from obesity as a young person, here shows parents how to help children break unhealthy connections among emotions, eating, and food. She outlines how children today are under greater stress than ever before (e.g., "high academic expectations, overbooked schedules, more rigorous beauty standards, rising divorce rates, and increased crime against children"). Since they also absorb society's view of eating being a reward, many of today's children are turning to food for comfort-a trend Danowski posits could have lifelong consequences. Children who associate birthday cake and holiday cooking with mom's attention are at risk of confusing parental love with food. VERDICT Danowski's style is basic and gentle. She examines the media culture behind food marketing, the power of parental example, ways to change thinking and eating patterns, and what not to do when helping children learn new approaches to food. There are no nuggets here on dieting or calorie counting, and many will balk at her clinical attitude (she never tasted her own wedding cake). Families who need a new understanding of their relationship with food will find Danowski's advice supportive. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
