Weight Loss Camps, Kicks, and Cooking are Today’s Weight Loss Solutions for Kids

December 29, 2008 By matt Leave a Comment

If you have an overweight or obese child, you may think that you’ve exhausted your resources and options for helping your child lose weight. Here are three fresh new ideas that may be the right solution for your child!

1. Weight Loss Camps

“Fat” camps are a thing of the past. Today’s weight loss and fitness camps for kids offer far more than those stereotypical camps of yester-year. There’s a huge emphasis on self-esteem, self-empowerment, knowledge and living healthy for life as opposed to the fat camps that would have isolated your child and put massive restrictions on their diets. Many kids find these camps to be more about fun than anything else which makes the weight loss part of it much easier.

2. Martial Arts

There are more and more youth karate programs springing up that offer not only the physical fitness benefits of martial arts, but also the great benefits of improving self esteem, self discipline and focus. These are areas that your overweight or obese child may struggle with quite a bit as they face the problems associated with the social stigma of being heavy.

3. Cooking Classes

Most overweight or obese children have an unhealthy obsession with food. We all do to some level as our society has put so much emphasis on food being about comfort and celebration. So, it may seem strange to emphasize anything about food or the enjoyment. Not true. We all have to eat and cooking is something that can be regarded as an art. Finding a children’s cooking course that teaches a child to prepare healthful meals will empower them to make better choices. Why not let your child prepare a few healthful meals per week after they’ve finished the class? There’s no reason you shouldn’t all eat healthfully!

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Screen Time Solutions for Parents with Overweight or Obese Children

December 22, 2008 By matt Leave a Comment

A lot of today’s weight troubles among our youth can be attributed large in part to the growing number of sedentary activities available.  Years ago, we never had so many choices of “screens” to entertain us:  computers, satellite TV, TIVO, video games galore and handheld personal video games.

You know as well as I do that we cannot turn back the clock.  We can’t expect our children to not want or desire these games.  The reality is that we simply need to set up limitations and a system to ensure that they get plenty of exercise along with their screen time.  Here are some ideas of how you can do that:

1.  Set up screen-time reward tickets

For every 15 minutes of exercise they perform, they get 30 minutes of screen time.  This is something that they will perceive as a great deal because they get more for less.  Most kids will see that if they do 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (running, jumping rope, riding their bike etc.) that they’ll end up with an entire hour of their favorite screen activity.  And, you’ll be sneaking in that ever important 30 minutes of necessary activity in order to promote weight loss.

2.  Buy a Wii and Wii Fit

Screen time doesn’t have to be inactive anymore.  Wii Fit has provided a fun outlet for kids that incorporates the best of both worlds.  They get to set up their “Mii” which is a virtual image used on the screen to represent your child.  An initial weight is taken as well as other fitness assessments such as BMI and balance.  As your child sets up their own personal fitness program, they get to track their progress.

3.  Provide Other Activities

Hey, the screens are tough competition, but your child still enjoys other activities.  Fitness camps are absolutely fantastic for kids.  They are a lot of fun and they’ll help your child develop a fitness plan that they’ll continue long after the camp is over.  As well, make a point to get the whole family out and about on a daily basis.  This could be a game at the park, walking the dog together or even having a silly yet fun, active obstacle course in the backyard!

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The Food Guide Pyramid from Down Under

December 17, 2008 By matt Leave a Comment

Most of us probably learned about the food guide pyramid in grade school…or perhaps you’re one of our younger readers still learning about it now.  For those like me with bad memories, you can check out the American Food Guide Pyramid here.  It’s a fabulous tool and one that can really help you make healthier choices when it comes to your diet.  A healthy diet is really important for weight loss and teaching healthy eating habits is one of our primary goals at our weight loss camps for kids.

However, it’s always a good thing to get a second opinion, so to speak.  I thought it might be kind of fun to tell you about the Healthy Eating Pyramid and see what kids are learning on the other side of the planet.

Our pyramid is divided into six parts:  Grains, Vegetables, Fruits, Milk, Oils, Meats & Beans.  You can click on each section of the pyramid at the USDA website linked above and get advice on how much of each you should take in throughout the day.

The Healthy Eating Pyramid developed by the Australian Nutrition Foundation Inc. is simpler.  It is divided up into three categories:  Eat Most, Eat moderately and Eat in small amounts.  Rather than giving specific advice, the advice is that one should eat mostly fruits, veggies, beans, nuts and grains and also eat some, but not as much, lean meats, eggs, and low-fat dairy.  The types of foods to be eaten in small amounts are oil, margarine, reduced-fat spreads, butter and sugar.

Hmmm… I wonder if kangaroo and crocodile are considered lean meats?

There are good things and bad things about both pyramids.  The American pyramid might seem complicated to some and it may cause confusion in the sense that there are a lot of things to consider.  However, the Australian pyramid may be too simplistic because it doesn’t offer a lot of information on portion sizes.

So, it’s really a matter of what you need more.  Do you need more advice on portion sizes and specifics?  Or, do you just want to know what in general you should or shouldn’t be eating?

Both pyramids are fantastic guides to healthy eating.  Whichever one you choose, you’ll be making better choices in the foods you eat!  Making better eating choices is paramount in losing weight and living at a healthy weight.  If you feel like you need help jump-starting the process or maybe just need a positive and supportive environment to get started in, check out one of our weight loss camps.

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Looking Beyond Image: Obesity, Kids & Heart Disease

December 10, 2008 By matt Leave a Comment

Obesity has such a negative tag attached to it.  If your child is overweight or obese, you probably have a lot of concerns about how the world will perceive him or her.  It’s a shame, really, that all we see when we look at somebody who is obese or overweight is their imagery.

The fact is that obesity is a disease like any other disease and we need to start perceiving it that way.  When we make it a superficial problem, we end up breaking down a child’s self image and self esteem.  The key is to understand the health issues that surround obesity and why it’s so important that you find adequate help and support in fostering your child’s weight loss efforts.  Our fitness camps are great ways to get started, but ultimately the problem must be addressed in daily life.

Cardiovascular health is by far the primary concern when it comes to obesity.  The heart and its ability to function is affected largely by our diets and activity levels.  Study after study proves a link between obesity and many contributing factors to poor heart health.

Arteriosclerosis (clogged arteries) results from a diet high in saturated fat.  The prevalance of high blood pressure in people who are obese is high.  Cholesterol levels can usually be decreased when adequate weight is lost.  Excessive weight in the abdominal region is a risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, as is a high body mass index or BMI.

The risk of developing type II diabetes is also very high in children and adolescents who are obese or overweight.  As a matter of fact, it’s been estimated that nearly 25% of kids born today will eventually develop type II diabetes as adolescents or adults.  Type II diabetes poses a huge threat to developing cardiovascular disease because of the sticky consistency of the blood in diabetic patients.

All of this is scary stuff, I know.  But the good news is that it can all be reversed!  This isn’t something that is a life sentence written in stone for your child.  Weight loss, even moderate weight loss, can reduce all of these risk factors.

Through your own efforts and your child’s as well as the advice and guidance of counselors at a summer weight loss camp, dieticians and physicians, you can help your child lose weight and reduce this risk.

Not only that, but consider this a learning opportunity for you and your child.  Take comfort in the idea that you’ll not only be helping your child lose weight, but with the knowledge he or she will gain through the weight loss program, chances are that your child will learn to eat and live healthier than most of his peers.

It all goes along with that image problem.  We tend to think that people who are thin or even at a normal weight are healthy just based on their appearance.  The fact is that if they are not eating right or exercising, then they may be very unhealthy.  Your child will have the benefit of learning about a healthy lifestyle while they are still young leading to a lifetime of good health!

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Is a Weight Loss Camp the Solution to the Obesity Epidemic?

December 4, 2008 By matt Leave a Comment

In the 1960s, the percentage of obese children ages 6-11 was around 4%.  Today, it’s a staggering 17% and rising.  There are a lot of desperate parents and scared kids who aren’t sure what to do as weight loss efforts fail and the risk of developing a plethora of diseases goes up.

Some parents are even turning to surgical intervention for adolescents as this option is beginning to open up for obese teenagers.  The problem is that the long term results of gastric bypass surgery and lap band procedures is simply not known at this time for this group of new patients.

With the amount of diseases that can be attributed to obesity, it’s imperative that we find a solution to this epidemic or we may be facing one of the unhealthiest generations of people in many years.  Cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorder, diabetes, debilitating joint problems and even some types of cancer are among the problems this 17% may be facing if adequate weight loss programs are not incorporated.

Parents and children alike need to be educated on proper nutrition and exercise.  There’s a lot of misinformation out there due to skewed product information in the food manufacturing arena.  So many companies boast “wholesome goodness” and “healthy meals for kids” when in fact, the vast majority of food that children eat these days is far from healthy no matter what the label says.

Individual counseling can be highly beneficial as it will address the needs of the child, parent and family involved in the weight loss efforts.

A summer weight loss camp may be the most practical solution to the problem.  Trained counselors can educate the family and tailor a weight loss program to suit the needs of the child; a program that the child can continue once they are back home.  

Many parents simply need guidance and many children need the self-confidence boosters and self empowerment that a weight loss camp can offer.

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