Linda Ojeda

The voice of the author reflects the conviction that something can be done about irregular menstrual pain.

"It could stem from a genetic predisposition, an organic malfunction, a vitamin or mineral deficiency, drugs, chemicals, stress, or any combination of these." she says in the introduction.

But, she is not anti-doctor: "Because of the possibility of there being a functional problem, it is always wise to consult a gynecologist first."

She also warns that not all male doctors believe that this pain is real. Because debilitating menstrual pain does not happen to every woman, you might want to add: any doctor "may not believe that this pain is real."

The book has a definite pro-woman stance and her more current book: Menopause Without Medicine (2003) invites the reader to take a more active part in their health. Perhaps it has a review on LibraryThing!… (més)

With childhood obesity on the rise, what could be of more help/interest to teens than a book about weight loss. I think the author does an excellent job of organizing this book. She puts all the information out there in the first half before even mentioning her weight loss strategies. The authors big secret is not to diet, but just make smart choices. It sounds very similiar to me (the author somewhat acknowledges this) to Weight Watchers. Essentially calorie counting; if you want to eat a donut fine, but you'll have to make up for it later. The main point is that teens understand what they are eating. She also does an excellent job at the beginning of discussing who should diet (not everyone) and cautions against skipping meals or the extremes of eating disorders (she explains the long term consequences).… (més)

In a time when being skinny is prized over honesty, goodwill, and kindness, Dr. Ojeda writes from her heart and gets straight to the root of the problem with dieting. Her book is designed to approach the teenage girl as a whole person instead of focusing solely on outward appearances.

Dr. Ojeda is careful to show that being underweight is just as dangerous as being overweight. She also explains that losing a few pounds is not a magic solution for happiness.

At the end, Dr. Ojeda includes a letter to the parents that reveals exactly how understanding she is of the teenage plight. It explains that since the teen is encouraged to write in the book about personal feelings, the parent should read it before the teen begins the diet so they understand how best to offer support, after which the book becomes private.

I strongly recommend this book for any girl who is self-conscious about her weight.… (més)

Safe Dieting for Teens by Linda Ojeda is a good, basic weight loss guide and one that I would be comfortable recommending to teens and their parents. What makes this book different from the myriad of weight loss books out there? For one, it doesn’t deal solely with losing weight; the book takes into account many complex issues that face teens today. One important question, which is overlooked in many diet books, asks teens to examine their reasons for picking up a diet book in the first place. Is it because a doctor or parent has suggested that they are at risk due to obesity, or is it because they feel they should look like a super-model with a figure that has been super enhanced by computer to look skinny and fashionable. Dr. Ojeda is well aware that often the teens that have no need to diet are the ones most obsessed by it. There is an entire chapter in the book devoted to recognizing Anorexia and Bulimia, serious problems in our society.

For those that do decide they need to make weight changes, the book doesn’t make promises of magical and sudden weight loss. It advises slow and steady modifications that will lead to life style changes. This is a common theme in most reasonable weight loss plans, and Dr. Ojeda’s advice keeps that message upbeat and doable. She places the choices in the hands of the dieter, giving information and suggestions for taking baby steps into changes that can last a lifetime without a great deal of sacrifice. Yes, the book has calorie charts (specifically, for many of the fast food places teens frequent), but it also maintains that the teen may want to begin a weight loss program by taking stairs instead of the elevator everyday and skip the food changes completely for awhile. Her reoccurring message: It’s your diet, do what will work for you. Make choices that will make you happy, not miserable.

Written in an easy to read and conversational style, the book recognizes that teens have some different issues from adults. Dr. Ojeda has taken those factors into account and has written a helpful and positive guide that can help teens make healthful life-style changes while keeping their own preferences.… (més)