Summer Camps for Overweight Children

The earlier a child reaches obesity the more likely that child becomes of suffering debilitating diseases as a result, and as of 2009 the Center for Disease Control reported that 17% of children ages 2 to 17 were significantly overweight. Diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disorders are all complications that may occur as a result of obesity. Weight loss camps are a unique way to remove children from their comfort zones and help them to learn lifelong healthy behaviors.

Short Term Camps

• Short term camps teach children basic health and fitness techniques without separating them from their parents for an extended amount of time. These programs are especially beneficial for younger children who may suffer severe homesickness. Camp Shane, located in Ferndale, New York, offers several weight loss sessions throughout the summer months. Campers have the option of attending three to nine week sessions that encourage weight loss through exercise and portion control. Camp Shane serves food similar to what campers encounter at home in an effort to help them remain successful when they return home. Campers stay in cabin style housing units that contain several bunks and a private bathroom. There are programs for children of all ages and many activities for children to do while enrolled in camp. The average weight loss of campers enrolled ranges from 15 to 50 lbs, depending upon the length of the session. The skills learned by children at a short term camp are geared towards helping them continue their weight loss throughout the rest of the year.

Long term

• Long term camps completely immerse children in the camp environment, which allows children who may struggle to stick with a set schedule to become completely involved in a weight loss program. Wellspring Camps has several locations throughout the United States including Florida, North Carolina, California and Pennsylvania. Wellspring sessions run from 3 months up to a year. Wellspring is staffed with tutors who can meet students at each level of their education so they stay on track with their schoolwork. Wellspring reports that their combination of physical activity and portion control regularly yields weight loss results of about 4 lbs per week. Wellspring continues to follow the progress of their campers after discharge to encourage continued weight loss beyond the controlled environment of camp. Programs are available for children aged 8 to 17. Physical activity programs are tailored to fit each camper's activity level, encouraging them to seek challenges and complete more and more activities. Wellspring camps aim to improve campers' knowledge of nutrition and increase self confidence so they can continue their progress after they return home. Wellspring reports that over 70% of their campers continue to lose weight and keep it off after their time at camp has ended.

Pros of Camp Setting

• The camp setting takes children out of their normal environment and exposes them to new ideas. Although you may have encouraged your child to be more active before, many camps try to make the activities fun so that children do not feel like they are working out. Children are often encouraged to continue losing weight when they experience the dramatic weight change that can occur within the camp setting. The independence of being away from home also boosts self confidence, and many camps have trained psychologists that can help children work through the issues that may have caused them to turn to food as a comfort.

Cons of Camp Setting

• One significant downside of sending your child to a weight loss camp is the cost. Most camps cost upwards of $2,000 depending on length of stay, which is a significant expense for many families even though it's often well worth it when the child returns happier and healthier than when they left. Another con is the time spent separated from your child as being apart is often a difficult adjustment for both parent and child. A third possible con is that sending a child to weight loss camp means the whole family must make lifestyle changes in preparation for the child's return. This means snacks and treats that may be enjoyable to you will need to be kept out of the house until the child is strong enough to make good choices. This may cause strife between other siblings but these struggles are often worth it in the long run as the whole family becomes healthier.