Childhood obesity rates in the US continue to rise and we're beginning to see more and more children suffering from what used to be typical adult diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Simply put, it is tragic. It is the responsibility of the adults in the lives of these children to do what they can to help prevent these kids from being subjected to these diseases.

Of course, preventing childhood obesity is much easier said than done. Everywhere we look there is unhealthy foods for sale, being advertised, and so on. Teenagers especially are at risk for developing unhealthy eating habits as they are allowed more freedom to do things away from home such as eating out with friends. However, the strains that an overweight child's body are subjected to can be extremely detrimental to their quality of life and we need to do what we can to help them keep off excess weight. If you feel like you're in over your head, one of our teen weight loss camps is a great way to get the process on the right track.

An overweight child's quality of life suffers in ways that most people do not consider. Overweight children are more likely to be depressed. Excess weight carried by the body also causes unnecessary strain on body joints and organs. This can make activities more difficult for overweight children to participate in which creates a downward spiral as less activity leads to more weight gain and so on and so forth. Being overweight also affects the production of things like insulin and antibodies which are fundamental in a child's health. All of these factors add up to support the facts - people who were overweight as kids are more likely to develop chronic diseases as an adult.

Fortunately, preventing childhood obesity is not that difficult. Kids can lose weight simply by becoming more active and eating healthier. Of course, implementing these changes can be difficult at home depending on how long bad habits have been permitted. A great way to circumvent the problems often associated with making immediate and drastic changes at home is to begin with a weight loss camp. At a camp, kids learn the healthy living habits that they haven't been implementing at home and learn ways to easily transition them to their home life. These life skills will be the sort of things that will benefit the well being of kids throughout their life.