I read both these books many years ago and was not very keen on it but I read the books like a good little girl as my mum had got me the books. I also watched the films and was not impressed just confirmed what I thought about the books. Hard going and a load of rubbish.
In the era that these books were written Alice was brought up in a well money background so she would think both of these ways.
Lose weight if they were busy concertrating on losing weight they wouldn't have time for "a bit of a fight," as they say.
When I read a book it is for the author and story along with the charecters not if there are any hidden meanings or messages.