Worthy

The Power of Kindness in Raising Body Positive Children

by JoAnn Stevelos MS MPH


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Softcover
$26.99
E-Book
$3.99
Softcover
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Book Details

Language : English
Publication Date : 4/18/2024

Format : Softcover
Dimensions : 8.5x11
Page Count : 84
ISBN : 9781982279998
Format : E-Book
Dimensions : N/A
Page Count : 84
ISBN : 9798765225004

About the Book

Worthy: Raising Body Positive Children, The Power of Kindness will help families care for children who are gaining too much weight too fast. Children with rapid weight changes often face stereotypes, social exclusion, and discrimination. They are likely to experience bullying and insensitivity outside and inside the home. When families, even those with the best intentions, attempt to address weight changes with children, they may unintentionally contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and poor body image.

Worthy shows families how to use the power of kindness to create body-positive environments at home, school, and the doctor’s office. Healing our sense of worthiness and our children’s worthiness is emotional work that requires open, loving hearts to dissolve the shame and set productive boundaries. Worthy uses the best research and tools to help families build body-positive, loving homes filled with kindness and joy.

Worthy encourages families to keep searching and keep hopeful until they find the right combination of things to help their children and themselves feel more confident and capable. We can do better for our children—we must—the consequences are too significant—the risk of having even one child going through weight changes feel unloved or unsafe is unacceptable.

Every child is worthy of loving-kindness.


About the Author

JoAnn Stevelos, MS, MPH has dedicated her life to service and studying programs that respond to the youth suicide, bullying, and obesity epidemics. She has also created a compassionate and holistic program, Worthy: The Power of Kindness in Raising Body Positive Children.

Worthy gives parents of children who have gained too much weight too fast hope, practical advice, and real-life solutions. JoAnn has over 20 years of experience researching childhood obesity prevention programs. Her education includes a Master's in Science (Bioethics) from Albany Medical College, a Master's in Public Health from the State University of New York, and a BA in Liberal Arts from Columbia University.

Dedicated to working with people who lead with love and hope, JoAnn’s approach to her public health work is informed by Dr. Gail Christopher's work that promotes truth, racial healing, and transformation as a path towards justice and peaceful co-existence. What she has learned is that often people who are vulnerable to public health epidemics feel isolated and are vulnerable to hopelessness, which has led her to become part of Dr. Anthony Scioli's Hope Institute. Hope is necessary for positive change and can be strengthened. And how to maintain hope in your family is something you will learn about in the Worthy program.

JoAnn has been the Director of the New York State Center for Best Practices to Prevent Childhood Obesity, as well as Director of Research, Evaluation, and Learning for the Clinton Foundation's Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Michelle Obama's Let's Move program. JoAnn is currently an international consultant for children's health and wellness programs. You can also read more in-depth articles in her blog for Psychology Today, Children at the Table.