“We are facing a tremendous family health challenge—obesity. A growing number of children are overweight, as are their parents. … WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER distills the best of scientific literature and puts it into a form that parents can use. When children live a healthy lifestyle, with the help of parents who follow the 5 rules and 5 roles described in this book, the weight will take care of itself.”

—From the Foreword by Pediatrician Marc S. Jacobson, M.D.

Researchers estimate that more than nine million American children over the age of six are the adult equivalent of obese, and many millions more are at risk of becoming so, posing an unprecedented challenge to pediatricians and parents alike. There is no single quick fix for America’s weight problem, but Weight Watchers has consistently led the way in developing approaches that have spurred millions of weight-loss success stories—continually drawing on scientific research and the proven principles of weight management within a supportive environment. Recently, Weight Watchers embarked on a pioneering pilot program to examine the unique weight-management needs of families. The result was a groundbreaking approach developed by Weight Watchers to help parents and families guide their kids in making healthy choices about nutrition and exercise, while kids and parents work together in maintaining a healthy weight at any age. All of this exciting information, as well as an understanding of the latest science, is now available to all families in WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER (Wiley/January 2006/$22.95/ISBN: 0-471-77102-3).

Written by Karen Miller-Kovach, M.S., R.D. (who spearheaded the pilot program as Weight Watchers Chief Scientific Officer) with an introduction by Meredith Vieira and a foreword by pediatrician Marc Jacobson, M.D., WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER presents innovative ways to help time-crunched parents avoid the fast-food trap, while getting kids to make friends with vegetables and whole grains as well as with daily treats. If exercise has fallen by the wayside as a result of too much time spent in front of the computer screen, television, or video game, Miller-Kovach’s tips will get everyone moving again, with the added bonus of how to initiate much-needed family interaction.

“I wish that books like WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER had been around during my childhood years,” explained Meredith Vieira, mother of 3 and co-host of “The View,” who also dealt with being overweight as a child. “WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER is filled with stories of, and tips for, how each of us can create a family environment where both nutrition and physical activity are things to enjoy. You’re never too old to learn!”

The book features dozens of proven and easy-to-implement techniques, but it is guided by the 5 rules the whole family must follow as well as the 5 roles played by parents. Because kids are not mini-adults, a structured weight-loss program is not appropriate for them. With that in mind, the rules and roles focus on celebrating good health—without playing the blame game or creating a sense of deprivation.

• The 5 Rules call on family members to: focus on the delicious world of wholesome, nutritious foods; include treats in a way that supports a healthy weight; keep screen time to two hours (or less) per day; be active for an hour or more per day; and apply the rules to everyone in the home.

• The 5 Rules are designed to give children the best support team possible, calling on parents to be inspiring role models, providers, enforcers, protectors, and advocates. Older siblings can also take on these leadership roles for younger brothers and sisters.

With these ten concepts as cornerstones, WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER guides readers through specific, essential steps in building optimal family health, with advice on which foods to include on a daily basis; how to interpret the Body Mass Index (BMI) numbers provided by a physician; how to make physical activity a year-round, all-weather, daily source of enjoyment, even for children who reject sports; meeting the special challenges of single parenting; realistic “what works/what doesn’t work” instructions for breaking unhealthy cycles, even when children seem inflexible; and many other simple actions that will spark powerful new habits and a powerful new outlook on life.

Written in a friendly and encouraging tone, WEIGHT WATCHERS FAMILY POWER restores great eating and exercise habits to every member of the family, with specific strategies to help parents transform the way their children approach nutrition and exercise. Unlike a majority of books in the category that focus on one-time weight-loss plans for adults, the Family Power approach inspires lifelong, healthy habits for all age groups. From toddlers and teens to adults of all ages, this is the encouraging, energizing weight-management approach that America has been craving.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: KAREN MILLER-KOVACH, M.S., R.D., is Chief Scientific Officer of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and the coauthor of Weight Loss That Lasts (Wiley). With its mission of helping people reach and maintain a healthy weight through a comprehensive weight-management program that is based on the latest science, WEIGHT WATCHERS has meetings that provide the coaching and tools to help people make positive changes for lasting weight loss.

© 2006 HealthNewsDigest.com