| Developmental |
| Eating Disorders |
| Psychology |
| Adolescent |
| Psychopathology |
| Child |
Summary
Summary
Childhood obesity in the United States has tripled in a generation. But while debates continue over the content of school lunches and the dangers of fast food, we are just beginning to recognize the full extent of the long-term physical, psychological, and social problems that overweight children will endure throughout their lives. Most dramatically, children today have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, something never before seen in the course of human history. They will face more chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes that will further burden our healthcare system. Here, authors Jacob Warren and K. Bryant Smalley examine the full effects of childhood obesity and offer the provocative message that being overweight in youth is not a disease but the result of poor lifestyle choices. Theirs is a clarion call for parents to have "the talk" with their kids, which medical professionals say is a harder topic to address than sex or drugs. Urgent, timely, and authoritative, Always the Fat Kid delivers a message our society can no longer ignore.
Author Notes
Jacob C. Warren, PhD and K. Bryant Smalley, PhD, PsyD are the co-executive directors of the Rural Health Research Institute at Georgia Southern University. They have published numerous scientific articles on health behaviors, social influences on mental health, and the impact of obesity on children.
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
A chronicle of the painful, long-term effects of being a "fat kid." With the rise of childhood obesity rates comes a new set of challenges for families and communities, write Warren and Smalley, co-directors of the Rural Health Research Institute at Georgia Southern University. Obese children face a combination of physical and psychological problems resulting in what the authors call "The Fat Kid Syndrome." Not only do these children often suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure, but they may also develop low self-esteem and compulsive behaviors. Further, they will likely experience depression and anxiety in greater numbers than their thinner peers--not to mention discrimination based on their appearance from colleagues, potential mates and even employers. The authors touch briefly on the causes of childhood obesity, including easy access to fast food, increased portion sizes and decreased emphasis on exercise. They also argue that parents are unwilling to speak honestly to their children about weight and that even doctors are instructed to avoid the topic out of fear of insulting or upsetting children. Warren and Smalley focus on raising awareness about the dangers of childhood obesity, and a short concluding chapter offers advice on how to help children and their families. They also include a helpful resource guide that includes nutrition, fitness and weight-control programs geared toward children. While childhood obesity is a trendy topic, even the authors acknowledge that there hasn't been enough time to research the long-term effects of the current epidemic. Therefore, much of what Smalley and Warren write about is speculation. They also come dangerously close to overgeneralizing the experience of obesity; certainly not all "fat kids" will suffer the extremes they describe. A flawed but useful call to arms in the fight against childhood obesity.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Choice Review
"Let's face it. Children today are fat," so this book begins. Society's efforts to gloss over this problem have backfired. People must realize that every fat child will experience problems with his/her coping skills, self-image, personality development, mental health, self-esteem, disease risk, and lifelong relationship to food. Warren and Smalley (co-executive directors, Rural Health Research Institute, Georgia Southern Univ.) have been there, and have hit an emotional nerve. They report firsthand on the lesser-known, far-reaching physical and psychological impact in adulthood of growing up as an overweight child, even after the excess weight has been lost. Written with sincerity, compassion, and a heightened sense of urgency, the text is well organized, clear, and informative. A key part of the book considers both beneficial and harmful ways to work with obese children and their parents ("What to Do with Fat Children" and "What Not to Do with Fat Children"). Fully referenced, with an extremely useful "Resource Guide," this book provides unique insights into the problems obese children face, underscoring the indisputable imperative of prevention. A must read for health care professionals, social workers, mental health counselors, parents, teachers, and government officials. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. J. M. Lacey West Chester University of Pennsylvania
