Good Girls Don’t Get Fat: How Weight Obsession Is Messing Up Our Girls and How We Can Help Them Thrive Despite It
, by Robyn Silverman, Ph.D.
From Publishers Weekly : In this straightforward guide, Silverman explores weight obsession in teenage girls, outlining ways that parents can help their daughters succeed in a “thin-is-in” world. Silverman had previously compiled “The Good Girls’ Weight Rules” list of negative beliefs that society pushes on girls, such as “my emotions should depend on how fat I feel” and “I strive for size zero.” She believes that girls should be taught to swap these harmful ideas for positive mottos (which she calls “Asset Girls’ Ten Commandments) stressing confidence and achievements. Silverman outlines the causes behind an unhealthy body image and what parents can do to combat it, interspersing her advice with quizzes and stories from teens she’s interviewed. Focusing mainly on mothers and daughters, Silverman also explores ways that fathers can reinforce a positive body image. Although the book contains plenty of sound advice, the breezy messages can border on hokey, with suggestions to declare one’s home a “Fat Talk Free Zone” or to limit girls to two minutes of “grumbling and groaning” about imperfections. The author concludes with a helpful guide to resources promoting a healthy body image and self esteem, and a list of shops that carry plus-sized clothing.