Fat Kids: Truth and Consequences (2)

by Rebecca Jane Weinstein

Fat Kids: Truth and Consequences is an informational vault of deeply personal tales and essential information, focusing on the lives, questions, and concerns of parents and children living in a childhood obesity crisis. Unlike most books about weight, however, Fat Kids is not a dieting or weight loss how-to; it instead explores the true human experiences and often untold science outside the current political positioning on children and weight. This book powerfully combines interviews, relevant research, social anecdotes, personal author accounts, and the reality of children struggling with weight, to create a narrative that is profoundly poignant, accessible, and essential for understanding our current war on fat.

343 pages, ebook

First published October 16, 2014

About the author

Rebecca Jane Weinstein is the author of four books, most recently a children's book, "Ella's Tummy: A Story of Understanding for All Ages." Her books also include "Fat Kids: Truth and Consequences" and "Fat Sex: The Naked Truth," part of the Fat Books series. Additionally, Rebecca has written for numerous national publications. Rebecca is the founder of PeopleOfSize.com, an online community and social networking site which provides information, support, and interaction for people of size. An attorney and social worker with a masters degree focusing on clinical therapy, Rebecca has been working as an advocate and writer for nearly twenty years. She is considered an expert on the subject matter of weight and culture. Rebecca shares her own experiences of being a fat child, and now a fat adult, having been put on her first diet at age six. She understands the struggles that so many experience living in a world with a war on fat. More information can be found at http://www.FatBooksSeries.com and http://www.EllasTummy.com.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually have an extremely high tolerance for misery in my reading material, but the sheer awfulness of most of the personal stories in this got to me anyway. I think it's because so many of the people were miserable in precisely the same ways, so the reader just ends up feeling weighed down with all the ugh. In any case, the chapters that were interviews with professionals or other kinds of more impersonal information were a welcome but too-rare respite from the rest, which sadly just ended up feeling like a slog to me, no matter how well written and interesting they were. Despite all that, though, this is an important book, and while I'm already fully on the side of the main author, I'm hopeful that this combination of personal stories and informal discussions with researchers will sway the opinions of some people who weren't yet.

[Ann Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible eye opener for me. My good friend recommended this book to me and I found it extremely educational. Not only did I see a different perspective on the topic of weight, but I gained a lot of insight into myself as well.

I very much recommend this book.

[Lynne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is testimony to what happens when parents, teachers and even doctors try to protect their children by taking actions that damage their kids way more than the thing they are trying to protect against. This is a collection of experiences and interviews, plus one very useful perspective from psychologist Peggy Elam, Ph.D on how a whole industry grew up around "fixing" fat kids--“Collateral Damage in the ‘War on Obesity’.” Many of the experiences were heart-rending, but I strongly believe that it's important to respect and listen to what actually happens to people, particularly when their experiences are consistently devalued. I would urge reading through to the end because the interview with Daniel Pinkwater rounds out the collection (pun optional) with a delightful attitude that made me smile.

[Shannon Halvorsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Weinstein is an insightful researcher and gifted writer. With a background in social work (MSW) and a lawyer, she writes with social relevance I may be biased. I was interviewed for the book and one of the chapters is MY story about growing up fat and the battles I faced, especially with my narcissistic mother.

[Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book if somewhat repetitive in the personal experience entries. I was intrigued by the interview with the Obesity doctor and her insights into the "Obesity Epidemic." Good read for anyone, but especially for those who were overweight as a child or love someone who was.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's taken me over 3 years to finally rate it. It's hard to read. Guess which chapter is mine, if you can.

[SkyMaiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE book! Do you have or were you a fat kid? READ THIS!!

[Mills College Library]

618.92398 W4246 2014