Fat Camp – just hearing the term sends shivers down the spines of some.  The term is commonly associated with horror stories – a place in the middle of the woods with a mean staff that forces you to do a bunch of things that you have no interest in doing.  Many kids think of fat camp as a miserable place to be…think about it from thier point of view:

- Their diet is changed and they may not want to try new foods or stop eating certain things
- Their activity level is increased
- Their snack and sweets intake is reduced
- They are limited or kept from watching TV, playing video games, etc.

In other words, going to a “fat camp” can be a pretty dramatic change from a child’s daily routine.  However, it is important to note that today’s weight loss camps are far different from the fat camps of old (read more about how we are not a fat camp in the typical sense).  If you’re considering sending your child to weight loss camp, make sure that their impression of what will take place is accurate.  Instead of allowing them to focus on the negative that they see, try to get them to see the positive aspects of weight loss camps.

- Kids are taught how to make healthy eating choices and that eating healthier can be just as tasty!
- Exercise burns calories, but can also be incredibly fun – you just have to find an activity that you enjoy!
- Snacks do not always have to be loaded with sugar and carbohydrates
- You can have just as much fun, or more, when you’re actively entertaining yourself (e.g. playing games, swimming, etc.)

Kids need to be shown how all the negative things that they see in a weight loss camp are actually positive, just as I’ve done above.

Going to a summer weight loss camp can be great for a child if it is used as the resource that it is.  It is unlikely that your child will ever be surrounded by so many professionals with so much experience in dealing with childhood obesity again in their lives, so tell them to take advantage of that!  Yes, their diet will change and they’ll be more active, but these are good things!  Our weight loss camps do a great job of finding activities for kids to participate in that are fun, plain and simple…to the point that many kids forget that they’re “exercising” while they do them.

Another great thing about weight loss camps that you need to make your child aware of is the setting.  Our camps lie on beautiful pieces of property away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  More importantly, however, is the peer environment at weight loss camps.  At school, for example, many overweight kids are made fun of or singled out frequently.  At a weight loss camp, you’re surrounded by people that are going through the same thing that you are in their lives.  They understand each other and encourage each other because they know what it’s like to live in each other’s shoes.  It’s a classic example of peer pressure working positively instead of negatively.

Parents that are considering sending their child to weight loss camp need to help their child understand the true goals and objectives of the camp as well as what the experience will be like.  Our campers always report that camp is fun, and this is what your child should be excited about.  The old days of “fat camp” are over – today’s weight loss camps accomplish all the same objectives, only in a healthier manner that is much, much more fun.

If your child has struggled with maintaining a healthy weight for most of their life but has not moved in to their teen years, you’re probably beginning to recognize that this is developing in to a potentially serious problem.  Studies have shown that individuals that were overweight during their teen years are much more likely to become overweight as adults than those that lived at healthy weights during adolescence.  A separate concern is that teenagers are often less interested in cooperating with parents as they learn to express their individuality.  This all boils down to a serious issue that must be addressed, yet must be dealt with in a way that your child will accept.  A change in diet and exercise routine are most certainly in order, but can be difficult to implement at home.  Often, families find success by sending their kids to a weight loss camp to “jump start” the process.

For example, consider the typical “day in the life” of a teenager.  They spend the majority of their day at school where they sit down in their classes.  When they get home, many will have a snack (usually not a very healthy one) and will spend time doing any number of things (watching TV, playing video games, doing homework, etc.) until dinner time.  Again, notice that none of these common activities involve burning calories.  After dinner, many kids spend the evening watching television or completing their homework – again not exercising.  They then go to bed and repeat this routine 5 days a week.  Since they live the entire week developing a habit of not exercising, many kids also do minimal exercising during the weekend, all of which contributes to gaining weight.

Getting a teenager to address this routine is a difficult task.  They have to be willing to help themselves, and unfortunately, some of these things cannot be avoided (e.g. going to school & working on homework at night).

One of the best places to start with teenagers is with some education about obesity and the associated health risks.  Most teens are mature enough to understand the health implications once they are confronted with the facts – the problem is that so many people are overweight these days that many kids do not think twice about the health issues with obesity.  If you are lucky, this educational exercise will be just what your kid needs to motivate themselves to change their lifestyle.  If the topic of a weight loss camp comes up, it is also important to help them understand that how today’s camps are different from the stereotypical fat camp.

Another strategy that can be extremely successful is for parents and teens is to start a weight loss program together.  A friendly competition can be healthy and at the very least you and your teen will have somebody to hold you accountable for your actions.  Study after study shows that individuals making dramatic lifestyle changes have a higher rate of long term success when they receive support and encouragement from others.  Many parents who have done similar programs with their children in the past also reported that the relationship with their child was strengthened as a result.

Keep in mind that you are not the only family in the world that is trying to deal with an overweight teenager.  If you do not know what to do, ask for help.  There are numerous professionals with training and experience dealing with situations just like yours, so use them!  They may recommend anything from a simple diet change to sending your child to a summer weight loss camp.

No matter what you decide to do, the important thing is that you begin by doing something.  Ignoring the problem and hoping that it will go away over time is a dangerous thing to do.  Before you know it, your overweight child will be an adult that struggles with weight problems and is at risk for dangerous diseases like heart diesease or diabeates.