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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
This was between a 4 and a 5 for me. I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because the content is deeply challenging and potentially triggering, but I do think that anyone who parents children should read it, whether they are fat or not.
This definitely shook my perspectives on some things and challenged what I think “effective” parenting is.
This definitely shook my perspectives on some things and challenged what I think “effective” parenting is.
challenging
informative
I want to marry this book. For everyone with a body - I don't even have kids in my life and I found it soooo educational and uplifting and comforting. I recommend this to EVERYONE!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This is a must-read book for not only parents, but for everyone. I’ve been on the heavy side since childhood, and I’m just so grateful that Virginia Sole-Smith put together a book discussing how our society treats bigger people. There are so many negative stereotypes about bigger people, and a lot of it has to do with ridiculous myths and misconceptions about why people are overweight.
The book really focuses on how the way we talk about fatness to our kids is extremely damaging. It not only leads to depression and a negative self-view, but it also often leads to extremely harmful eating disorders. And as previously mentioned, a lot of it isn’t even rooted in science.
Although this book discusses young women for the majority of the book, as a father of a 14-year old son, I was glad there were some sections about young men and fathers as well. While I do think this book is a must-read for everyone, I don’t have high expectations that the perception of fat people will change anytime soon, unfortunately. But this is a fantastic book overall.
The book really focuses on how the way we talk about fatness to our kids is extremely damaging. It not only leads to depression and a negative self-view, but it also often leads to extremely harmful eating disorders. And as previously mentioned, a lot of it isn’t even rooted in science.
Although this book discusses young women for the majority of the book, as a father of a 14-year old son, I was glad there were some sections about young men and fathers as well. While I do think this book is a must-read for everyone, I don’t have high expectations that the perception of fat people will change anytime soon, unfortunately. But this is a fantastic book overall.
A book everyone should read! Made me reevaluate a lot of my assumptions around weight and dieting.
An important book about the pervasiveness of diet culture and how we talk about bodies, especially around children.
Notable Quotes:
•“Amelia also appreciates that Eliza finds ways to say “Your body is not your value” as often as possible. “We point out the lack of body diversity and weight discrimination when we see it, and honestly, both of my kids now tend to point it out before we have to, which is great,” Eliza says. “But I’m sure we could do a better job of saying clearly and out loud that her body isn’t a measure of her worth as a human.”
•”We can reject the premise that our worth, as parents or as people, should be measured by our weight. And when we do that, diet culture has nothing to feast on. Controlling your body size stops being the goal.”
I didn’t agree with the author on every aspect of this book, and I hoped for more scientific references about weight and health, but I do think it’s a worthwhile read for everyone who interacts with children.
Notable Quotes:
•“Amelia also appreciates that Eliza finds ways to say “Your body is not your value” as often as possible. “We point out the lack of body diversity and weight discrimination when we see it, and honestly, both of my kids now tend to point it out before we have to, which is great,” Eliza says. “But I’m sure we could do a better job of saying clearly and out loud that her body isn’t a measure of her worth as a human.”
•”We can reject the premise that our worth, as parents or as people, should be measured by our weight. And when we do that, diet culture has nothing to feast on. Controlling your body size stops being the goal.”
I didn’t agree with the author on every aspect of this book, and I hoped for more scientific references about weight and health, but I do think it’s a worthwhile read for everyone who interacts with children.
challenging
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Phenomenal book. Really great summary of the research in an accessible way along with practical ways to implement in your life with your kids and loved ones. Highly recommend if you want to learn more about unpacking diet culture and anti-fat bias esp for kids.
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
slow-paced