Paul Kramer's "Maggie Goes on a Diet," a children's book, ignited a firestorm of controversy even before its release, landing the author on network television news shows, YouTube videos, and "People" magazine. The book tells the story of Maggie, a 14-year-old overweight girl who transforms herself through diet and exercise, becoming a soccer star and gaining popularity. However, the book's approach to weight loss and its potential impact on young readers sparked widespread criticism.
Plot Summary and Intended Audience
The book is about Maggie, who "goes on a diet and is transformed from being extremely overweight and insecure to a normal-sized girl who becomes the school soccer star." In the story, Maggie loses over 50 pounds by exercising and eating foods such as “oatmeal, yogurt and fruit” and becomes more popular. Kramer said he wrote the book with a 6- to 12-year-old audience in mind.
The Controversy
Critics were loud enough to lead Kramer to announce recently he has made some changes. The original cover depicts a heavy-set Maggie holding a pink gown and smiling into a full-length mirror, which reflects her image as decidedly slender. It’s that once she loses weight, the heroine becomes not only a soccer standout but more noticeable to boys. Many critics argue that the book promotes harmful messages about body image, dieting, and self-worth, particularly for young girls. Concerns were raised that the book could lead to eating disorders and promote the idea that a person's value is determined by their weight.
Changes Made to the Book
Most notably, the title has been changed to “Maggie Eats Healthier,” to appease the huge negative response to the word “diet,” Kramer said. While the original book was released in some parts of the country in late October, an additional version of “Maggie” was released in December. In the alternate book, during the first week of eating well and working out, “Maggie” sheds “a few pounds,” instead of the seven-and-a-half pounds in the original version. "For the so many who said, 'my only problem with the book is the word “diet,” I have tried to satisfy their concern.”
Criticisms of "Maggie Goes on a Diet"
Several reviewers and commentators have voiced strong criticisms of "Maggie Goes on a Diet," citing concerns about its potential impact on young readers. Here's a summary of the key points:
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- Unrealistic Weight Loss: Some reviewers argue that Maggie's weight loss journey is unrealistic, with her losing a significant amount of weight in a short period.
- Focus on Appearance: A major criticism is that the book places too much emphasis on Maggie's appearance and how her weight affects her social life and self-worth. Reviewers argue that the book sends the message that being thin is the key to happiness and acceptance.
- Potential for Eating Disorders: Reviewers worry that the book could encourage young girls to develop unhealthy eating habits and body image issues, potentially leading to eating disorders.
- Target Audience: Many critics believe that the book is inappropriate for its target audience of 6- to 12-year-olds, as children in this age group may not have the maturity to understand the complexities of weight loss and body image.
- Message to Bullies: Some critics feel the book sends the message that if you're fat, it's your fault you're being bullied.
Expert Opinions
Joanne Ikeda, a nutritionist emeritus at the University of California-Berkeley, warned that highlighting imperfections in a boy's or girl's body “does not empower a child to adopt good eating habits.” She added that dieting down to a smaller clothing size doesn't guarantee living happily ever after and that role models like Maggie can perpetuate the idea that “if you don't look like Cinderella, you're a failure."
Alternative Perspectives
Dorris Flockhart, owner of Nutrition-N-More in Kentwood, said she doesn’t have issues with Kramer’s book and doesn’t believe it could lead anyone to develop an eating disorder. She said, “I don’t see anything wrong with it, especially if it starts a conversation.”
Kramer said, “I never meant to encourage 6-year-olds to go on a diet. I just wanted to urge children to eat healthier,” he said. “I was trying to assist children and help them to deal with issues they may have to face and tell them they could overcome their problems."
Advice for Parents
Dorris Flockhart offered the following advice for parents who want to address weight issues with their children:
- “Don’t focus on weight loss, focus on health,” says Dorris Flockhart, owner of Nutrition-N-More in Kentwood.
- “The only way to help our kids is for parents to do the same thing. This is a family affair and the entire family needs to be healthy. You can’t separate the kids from the family. Don’t eat from a box; shut the cellphones down, turn off the TV and have dinner together.”
- “If I had to broach this to a teenage girl I would say: ‘Honey, it doesn’t matter to me what you look like; I love you,” says Paul Kramer, author of “Maggie Goes on a Diet.” “But as you probably know, it is better for you to make positive changes. I’d give her this book and ask her for her opinion.”
Other Books on Similar Topics
- “Don’t Call me Cookie,” by Vanessa M. Pasiadis, is a book about an overweight 12-year-old aspiring actress. It has been endorsed by Children’s Hospital of Cleveland.
- “Making Healthy Choices,” by Merilee Kern, won “Excellent Product” awards in 2006 and 2007 from iParenting and was a 2007 “Mom’s Choice Award,” finalist from the “Just for Mom’s Foundation.” It’s recommended for 7-14-year-olds, and there are separate editions for boys and girls.
- “Bullies Beware!” by Paul M. Kramer is about bullying.
- “Do Not Dread Wetting the Bed,” by Paul M. Kramer is about bed-wetting.
- “Divorce Stinks!,” by Paul M. Kramer is about divorce.
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