Can reading help tweens lose weight?

A study was done in Duke University.

The study had overweight girls, ages 9 to 13 to read a novel called Lake Rescue. This book was written to promote healthy lifestyle, deal with overweight issues and provide positive messages. Six months later, the 31 girls who read the novel had a significant decrease in their BMI scores (-.71%) when compared to a control group of 14 girls who hadn't (+.05%),.

To find out what your child's BMI score is, click here.

Now granted it was a small sample size but never the less, I think the over riding messages are clear.

We have to find creative ways to promote healthy living.

We have to look for different ways for children to learn about the importance of healthy living in a way that is meaningful to them.

• reading about kids who are making healthy lifestyle changes
• playing nutrition oriented video games
• watching cartoons that provide positive healthy messages
• nutrition oriented or healthy lifestyle toys
• involving children in the meal planning and cooking

What we don't want to do is single out an overweight child, nag about their food choices or scold them. Instead we need to focus on positive messages and using games, books and other activities as a way to support the message, "healthy living is necessary and it's fun"

If you have a great idea or technique that has worked with your child, please share it. It is by all of us working together that we will begin to make a difference!