A recent study out of Duke Hospital offers evidence that reading books can help obese girls lose weight. Yes, I said reading books! How is this possible? Working with pediatric specialists, the publisher of Lake Rescue produced a book that provided girls, ages 9-13, with a character who overcomes her self-esteem issues and learns how to follow a healthy lifestyle. Even though the character is fictional, she managed to exert positive peer pressure, encouraging the girls in the Duke study to take control of their lives and to lose weight.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081004080918.htm
The implications of the study are powerful. If this approach works for obese, preadolescent girls, it could work for preteens dealing with other issues. Think of it. The gay teen dealing with internalized homophobia, the young woman or man trying to recover from abuse, the kid with alcoholic parents, the boy who is trying to resist pressure to join a gang, even the math-phobic child who doesn’t think she can succeed in school; all of them might find their lives improved through a combination of support services and good reading.
I hope publishers, authors, mental health experts and educators begin working together to develop books that teach young people how to manage life’s complicated issues. Right now, this is most likely to happen in fantasy novels, like the Harry Potter series. Such novels often center on the adventures of “nerdy” kids who discover their own inner resources. What a blessing it would be to flood the market with realistic YA fiction featuring young characters who learn how to negotiate life’s vicissitudes.
Authors and publishers: Take note!
Tags: child psychology, children's literacy, education, emotional literacy, teaching coping skills to children, weight management, young adult literature
October 30, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Great article – thanks!
Andy