Choosing the Best Weight Loss Program for Your Child
Based on recent news, it looks like obesity is here to stay. According to a 2008 study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, roughly 86 percent of adults in the U.S. may be overweight or obese by 2030. As young people grow up in an environment where obese is the norm, experts predict that this public health crisis will only continue to build on itself.
Despite countless efforts and millions of dollars spent by schools, national organizations, and special interest groups, the obesity epidemic appears to be getting worse. The obesity rates have increased in 37 states, without any corresponding decreases in other states, according to the annual report by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. And efforts to prioritize physical education and better nutrition in schools have made little impact, with the majority of states failing to enforce their own laws in these areas.
While the U.S. government and national organizations work on policy changes and public service campaigns to counter childhood obesity, families all over the world are taking their health into their own hands by signing up for various types of weight loss camps and programs.
From all-girls camps, family camps, and adventure camps to weight loss boarding schools, there are safe and effective programs designed to meet the needs of overweight youth of all ages, sizes, and backgrounds. But in order to get the maximum benefit of a weight loss program, parents must sit down with their child, research various types of programs, and figure out the best match for their child's particular needs and interests.
How About Fat Camp?
When it comes to losing weight, first and foremost you want a program that works. When parents don't know where else to turn, some enroll their children in "fat camps." But not all "fat camps" or "fat farms," as they are stereotyped, are of the same quality and value.
Old-style fat camps are strictly about weight loss, at whatever cost. They require excessive amounts of daily exercise and an unsustainable restriction in calories and types of food campers are allowed to eat. The camp environment is often competitive, stressful, and unsupportive, making "fat camp" an exercise in humiliation and shame. Worst of all, fat camps don't really work - according to The New York Times, over half of all "fat camp" campers return the following summer to shed the pounds they regained throughout the school year.
Modern weight loss camps, like Wellspring Camps and Wellspring Academies located throughout the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, are more accurately called weight loss camps because of their focus on good health and long-term lifestyle change. Wellspring offers a variety of weight loss programs for overweight and obese teens, including summer camps, after-school programs, known as Wellspring Fit-Clubs, and the first all-girls camp at Wellspring New York, for those who prefer a single-gender camp experience.
Although weight loss camp campers lose significant amounts of weight, the focus is on educating young people about their bodies and addressing the underlying emotional issues through daily journaling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a positive and supportive peer environment. Young people learn to embrace good nutritional habits and regular physical activity as a part of everyday life, while having fun playing sports, taking art classes, hiking, canoeing, and swimming.
Supported by years of data and scientific studies, Wellspring's approach has proven to help young people become long-term weight controllers. Weight loss camps like Wellspring hire the top professionals in the field, who are not only highly educated and experienced but who also feel passionately about helping young people learn to love themselves.
Weight loss camps aren't just for children and teens. Wellspring also offers family camps and adult retreats for those struggling with their weight. At Wellspring's Family Camp, the world's first weight loss camp for the entire family, parents learn how to promote healthy living in the home environment, while enjoying activities like personal training, hiking, swimming, and more. Wellspring Retreats are eight-day weight loss adventure expeditions for adults who want to lose weight and get motivated to start a long-term weight loss plan.
"One of the best parts about Wellspring is that we can truly meet anyone's needs," says Kim Somma, Executive Director of Wellspring Camps-East. "With camps spread all over the world, from Australia to England and California to New York, that serve people of all ages and interests, we are able to work with families to understand their unique needs and can tailor each camper's weight loss camp experience accordingly. This diversity and breadth of resources makes Wellspring a great place to embrace a new way of life."
The Appeal of Adventure Camps
If your child is looking for a bolder, more adrenaline-filled weight loss camp experience, adventure camp may be the place for him. Adventure camps are not your average summer camp - they make losing weight a thrilling, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
For example, at Wellspring Adventure Camp in North Carolina, campers ages 11 to 17 live, explore, and discover a healthy lifestyle in the great outdoors. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, campers' days are filled with exciting activities like hiking, camping, rock climbing, rappelling, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. Because campers not only lose weight but also discover new interests and walk away with newfound confidence, Wellspring's adventure camp is in high demand, often filling within the first few months of the year.
Another benefit of adventure camp is that these programs tend to be located in some of the world's most awe-inspiring places. For example, Wellspring offers a camp located on the slopes of the Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. While embracing an active lifestyle and healthy diet, campers enjoy activities like surfing, snorkeling, outrigger canoe competitions, and climbs into ancient volcanoes. Surrounded by breathtaking views of the ocean, stunning sunrises and sunsets, and a river with waterfalls and a swimming hole, Wellspring Hawaii is an inspiring place for adolescent boys and girls to explore their struggles with weight and make lifelong friends.
"I love being a part of Wellspring, not just because these kids are losing tons of weight, but also because they are discovering a zest for life that they can take home with them," states Somma. "So many of our campers rediscover interests and talents they had closed the door to a long time ago. When it came to sports or other activities, they'd tell themselves 'I'm not the person who can do those things.' But here, they realize they can be whoever they want to be."
The Year-Round Benefits of Weight Loss Boarding Schools
In addition to weight loss camps, retreats, and after-school programs, young people ages 11 to 24 also have the option of attending a weight loss boarding school. Wellspring Academies, located in California and North Carolina, are the first residential programs of their kind where students can reside on campus and change their lifestyle, while continuing their middle school, high school, or college education. With plenty of individualized attention, assistance with college preparation, and elective course offerings in culinary skills, nutrition, and fitness, students at weight loss boarding school make great strides both academically and personally.
In between classes, Wellspring students can take advantage of a fully equipped weight room, cardio studio, aerobics classes, swimming pool, walking paths, athletic courts and fields, nearby parks and recreation areas, and a wide range of outdoor adventure activities. Wellspring students walk at least 10,000 steps per day, eat a low-fat diet, and visit with their "behavioral coaches" for individual and group therapy multiple times each week.
Making a Well-Informed Choice
Joining a weight loss program requires a significant investment of time, energy, and money. Jeremy Whitworth, Program Director at Wellspring Vancouver, advises parents to research each potential camp to determine if it's a good fit. Based on his experiences working at multiple Wellspring Camps in North Carolina, Wisconsin, and California, he explains that "All of the camps are so different - some are adventure-based with camping and hiking, while others are located on college campuses and more closely resemble life at home."
Whitworth recommends that parents look at each prospective program's website, talk to the program director, and ask questions about which types of personalities tend to thrive at each camp. For instance, although a camper may love the idea of an exotic camp in Hawaii, it may not be the right fit for a child who despises outdoor adventure activities.
Whitworth also suggests that parents get their children involved in choosing the weight loss program that is most appealing to them. Although young people lose weight and make remarkable progress at programs like Wellspring whether they choose the program or not, kids feel more invested when they are part of the decision-making process.
Whatever weight loss program parents choose for their child, the experience will change them for life. "These kids really come into their own at camp," says Whitworth. "Their self-esteem skyrockets, and they walk away almost like new people by the end of the program."
Equally as important as the weight loss program itself are the people who choose to prioritize their health and invite change into their lives. "The biggest reason for Wellspring's success," says Somma, "is the people and families who commit everything to this program. What drive us are the brave souls that come here to change their lives. I give them all a world of credit."
Wellspring Camps and Academies
