Educational Media Reviews Online

This DVD, Say No To Diets is a glimpse at the fad diet and fashion industry and its harmful influence on teenagers. Americans spend an estimated 30 billion dollars a year on pills and other gimmicks that promise quick weight loss. As a result of these claims, two thirds of teenage girls affirm that they are currently on a diet or about to go on one. This DVD gives a realistic look at how some teens take dieting to an extreme, endangering their heath and developing eating disorders during a time when proper nutrition in mandatory. The host appropriately points out that body image and the need to be accepted by one's peers plays a supporting role in why teenagers diet. She also strengthens the stance that teenagers must accept their bodies, and encourages them to eat a healthy balance of foods and make an effort to exercise as a means of coping with their changing body during puberty. The final message conveyed is this: if you need to, lose weight for medical reasons, or otherwise, eat healthy in moderation and become more active in your daily life. Valuing good health over impossible standards that someone else has set is the only way to go.

This highly recommended DVD comes with a teacher's guide filled with attention-grabbing activities that further the viewers understanding about why diets are not healthy. A pre and post test worksheet and a bibliography of online resources make this source and excellent starting place for teachers who have been changed with teaching about this topic. Other videos from Human Relations Media can be used to compliment this package however this DVD stands alone and can make an immense impact with middle and high school students. The audio and video quality is excellent and the script moves along keeping the attention of the audience.