Trim Kids: The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight [Paperback]

Melinda S. Sothern (Author), T. Kristian von Almen (Author), Heidi Schumacher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 29, 2003

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (July 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060934174
• ISBN-13: 978-0060934170
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Than Pleased!, July 18, 2002

By 

The Mother of a Formerly Overweight Child (Harvey, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trim Kids(TM): The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight (Hardcover)

I cannot express my sincere thanks enough to the authors of Trim Kids for the success my child has had on this program. The diet, the exercise and the behavior modification truly work. My daughter, Maci, was classied as clinically obese during the summer of 2000. At age 9, Maci weighed 132 lbs and was wearing adult size clothes. She was teased by other children which was lowering her self esteem. She would breathe heavy and turn red when playing with her friends, during dance classes and when playing sports. We tried monitoring what she ate, when, how much, etc. and had her enrolled in dance classes and sports year round. Maci continued to gain weight. Thanks to the Trim Kids program, Maci has lost 32lbs. Here we are twenty-one months later and Maci is still maintaining her goal weight. She has learned the importance of eating healthy and excercising safely. The results of this program are absolutely remarkable and definitely long term. I highly recommend the program to both overweight children and their parents (I lost 8lbs myself following the program with my daughter). Maci's overall attitude has changed- she is more confident and her self esteem has sky-rocketed. She simply beams with pride. Her face still lights up everytime someone we haven't seen in a while comments on her weight loss and says how nice she looks. When asked how she did it, Maci proudly replies, "I joined Committed to Kids and followed the Trim Kids program".
Sincerely,
Rhonda Miller

85 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Success as a direct result of this book's program, December 29, 2001

By 

Annette (Holland, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Trim Kids(TM): The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight (Hardcover)

What can I say? This book is not only practical, but lifesaving, life changing for kids that are overweight, and in danger of serious health problems. I have reviewed and USED this program first hand, since last May 1st of 2001. My son has lost and changed in some very healthy ways. At 11, he was 212. and today, he is so far, 160.plus he has grown 3 plus in. in height. The other part to this, is the symptoms of beginning health problems have corrected themself as a result of the weight reduction. We got results. I am the mom and have also lost 45 lbs so far, and this was due to the change in menu at home, initially for my son with 30 to go from implementing this prractical program! This program is phenomenal and I recommend to ALL FAMILIES! This book is a must have if you are concerned with the weight, eating habits and nutrition for you children and/or the rest of your family. This is the first time, anything has had the consistent and "real" lifechanging results we have ever encountered.Thank you to the authors and anyone involved with this effective book/program that it contains!

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PLEASED WITH TRIM KIDS, July 8, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Trim Kids(TM): The Proven 12-Week Plan That Has Helped Thousands of Children Achieve a Healthier Weight (Hardcover)

I would like to express my gratitude to TRIM KIDS and the authors of this book. In April of 2001,my grandson Trey Olano began this program. He was 12 years old weighing 205 pounds. He had a 42 inch waist and wore extra large shirts. Buying clothes for him was a hectic chore not to mention the ridicule he tolerated. He was never allowed to participate in playground ball because he did not meet the required weight limit. He came to his parents and myself with concerns about his weight. It was hindering his ability to play sports,and was becoming a health issue. His energy level was extremely low and his self-esteem even lower. We enrolled Trey in Committed To Kids in New Orleans. He followed the Trim Kids Program for one year and the results were astounding. He has lost a total of 51 pounds . He now has a 31 inch waistline and wears medium to small size shirts.With TRIM KIDS,Trey's determination,and the support of his whole family we now see a different child. Trey now enjoys being himself. His self-esteem is remarkable.This year he has participated on his school's football,baseball.and wrestling teams. The TRIM KIDS PROGRAM has truly changed my grandson's life.J Agoff