The researchers asked a group of obese girls, ages 9 to 13, who are already on a weight loss program, to read one of Annie Bryant’s teenage novels. With the help of pediatric specialists, the text introduced positive role models from the point of view of a healthy lifestyle, and also contained advice on weight management.
Six months later, the researchers found that 31 girls who read the novel showed a significant decrease in body mass index (-0,71%), while 14 girls in the control group, on the other hand, showed a 0,5% increase in the index.
“As a pediatrician, I cannot count how many times I have recommended that parents buy books from which they can get useful advice, but until now I could not point to research that would support my recommendations. This is the first study to show that literature can have a positive impact on the lifestyles of young girls, ”says Sarah Armstrong, head of the health program at Duke Clinic, where the study was conducted.
Although the decrease in BMI associated with the book is small, Armstrong explains that any drop, even small, is very encouraging, as the BMI in children usually rises as they develop. However, in overweight children, the body mass index grows much faster.
“If the index falls, it means that they are either losing weight, or growing and not gaining weight. Both cases are quite positive indicators for children trying to lose weight, ”she explains.
Previously, only strong drugs with side effects remained effective weight loss methods, or .
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