Product Description

Based on the 15-year success of a proven, world-renowned program forpreventing and treating childhood obesity, Trim Kids™ helps children achieve a healthy weight -- and have fun doing it.

Trim Kids™ is a unique 12-week plan that gives parents and children a positive, safe initial approach to lifetime weight management. Each week, parents and kids together practice scientifically proven ways to increase daily activity and set (and celebrate!) achievable eating and exercise goals. Children learn exercises especially designed for their weight levels, and the family will enjoy dozens of menu plans with tasty, nutritious, kid-tested recipes. The program's comprehensive shopping lists and dining-out tips were designed with busy families in mind, and parents learn positive ways to coach children to make healthier lifestyle choices away from home.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #123281 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Sothern, an exercise physiologist, von Almen, a research psychologist, and dietician Schumacher team up in this comprehensive workbook to help parents guide their overweight children to better health. Today, 10 million kids that's one in four are overweight, the authors say, and the more overweight the child, the more at risk he is for adult obesity and type II diabetes; he's also more susceptible to low self-esteem and depression. Focusing on a three-pronged approach with nutrition, exercise and behavior modification techniques, the authors help parents assess their children's weight and choose one of four levels suited to the severity of their condition. The 12-week, 12-chapter process which begins with a trip to your child's pediatrician can be repeated as needed; as children progress, they simply graduate to a new level of the program. This kid-friendly method uses weekly goal-setting to prompt motivation and includes suggestions to get kids moving (get them to play tag or put a stationary bike in front of the TV). Snacks and meals clearly have been created with kids' taste buds in mind (i.e. frozen grapes or oven-baked chicken nuggets), though the entire family will enjoy many of the recipes. This practical guidebook will surely help parents get overweight kids on the right track to a healthy future, and its workbook format offers plenty of space for parents and kids to chart their successes.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
With 25 percent of American children overweight or obese, how can parents help a child lose excess pounds without nagging or making him or her develop an eating disorder? Exercise physiologist Sothern, research psychologist T. Kristian von Almen, and clinical dietician Heidi Schmacher have provided readers with the blueprint of their "Trim Kids" program, as developed over the last 15 years at Louisiana State University. The 12-week plan offers concrete guidelines for nutrition, exercise, positive reinforcement, and feedback based on each child's color-coded weight level (assigned initially by the severity of the child's weight problem). Part 1 provides background on the program and its components; Part 2 is a week-by-week guide to menus, recipes and suggested grocery lists, exercises, record keeping, and helpful hints, with comments from both parents and children at various stages of success. Relapses and backsliding are addressed as well. A little daunting if read in one sitting, this book is chock-full of advice that can be used even outside of the program. Recommended. Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp., NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"Trim Kids is a much-needed and unique comprehensive program for achieving healthy weight in children...and it works." (Michael I. Goran, Ph.D., Associate Director, Institute for Prevention Research, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Physiology & Biophysics, University of Southern California )

"This book does an excellent job emphasizing that kids are not just mini-adults. Their opinions are important..." (American Association for Active Lifestyles & Fitness (AAALF), David Chong, Reviewer, Physical Activity Coordinator, Hawaii Department of Health )

"This book is not only practical, but lifesaving--and life-changing for kids who are overweight...This program is phenomenal!" (Annette M. Holtz, Holland, MI )

"The results of this program are absolutely remarkable and definitely long-term. I highly recommend it." (Rhonda Miller, Harvey, LA )

"This book is filled with delicious but low-calorie recipes, fun activities... [and] behavior techniques...I recommend it highly!" (Dennis M. Styne, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, University of California Davis )

"The strategies in Trim Kids are practical, effective, and fun for kids. I strongly recommend this comprehensive guide to parents." (Nancy Butte, Ph.D., Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine )

"When I hear a mother say, 'I am worried about my whole family's health,' I consider offering this book as one of the tools she can use to address her concerns and move forward. I highly recommend this book." (--Daniel Bessensen, M.D., University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, in Obesity Management, June 2006 )

"Trim Kids is an authoritative approach to understanding and treating childhood overweight." (David S. Ludwig, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Obesity Program; Associate Director, General Clinical Research Center, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA )

.Parents with an obese child...would do well if they first consult Trim Kids. (Claude Bouchard, Ph.D., Executive Director, George A. Bray Chair in Nutrition, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University )

Customer Reviews

wow!
I have an overweight child that wasn't doing too good with her weight and Trim Kids help her lose almost 120 pounds in just 12 weeks! If you don't believe me try it for yourself. I also found out that they have extremly good recipes from their book and I use them al the time now. Thank you so much Dr.Melinda, Mrs.Heidi! I know who you are! Thanks!

Best book for any overweght child.....PERIOD.
The best book I've ever reviewed. Guaranteed to help your overweight child within 12 weeks. Hand's down this is the best bock for your overweight child. So start today and help improve your child's athletic ability.
Best Trimming book I've ever read!

Not the book I will use
My daughter is moderately overweight. We watch what we eat in our family and exercise together already. This book was for people who have habbits that obviously need fixing. This will not really help us. Also, I found the format annoying in that the excercises were spread out over each week, the recipes were spread out over each week, etc. I prefer all of the recipes in one chapter and all the exercises in one chapter, etc. If you really were asleep during health class or you don't know how to exercise and eat, this book has good suggestions. Otherwise, it might not be the book for you.