There is very little that is more important to a teenager than feeling a sense of belonging. Therefore, the idea of going to a ‘fat camp‘ is usually terrifying for teens. However, weight loss camps for kids can provide an environment for them where they are surrounded by people like them who are working toward similar goals. Such camps and programs often surprise teens by providing a totally accepting atmosphere.
Teens already suffer from an onslaught of bodily and hormonal changes, peer pressures, and swiftly approaching responsibilities. Adding something like being obese to this list of stress-factors makes it particularly difficult for a teen to set and achieve goals. Counselors at summer camps are specially trained to help teens feel good about themselves and give them the extra boost they need to succeed at losing weight.
The sad truth is that most obese teens simply don’t get the support they need to successfully lose weight. Teens are probably less accepting than any other age group of obesity and other differences. Kids can be cruel at this age, and obese teens typically get the exact opposite of what they need when it comes to warmth and compassion. And peers are not the only ones to blame; many times family members, often with the best of intentions, are so critical that the teen simply doesn’t have the self-esteem to care about taking action and losing weight. Shame leads to eating and inactivity, which lead to more shame.
The pressure in our society to be skinny is so strong that even people of normal weight often report having painful memories of not belonging during adolescence. Kids are especially vulnerable between the ages of 13 and 18, and it is common for people who are obese between these ages to report emotional pain lasting into their 30s and 40s.
Weight loss camps give girls the opportunity to talk about fashion and their looks with people who look similar, eliminating the embarrassment they might feel talking about such subjects with skinnier girls. These camps put teens in an environment where they feel they are not inferior to the people around them or being constantly judged by people.
Boys enjoy the same benefits. They can talk about any subject they want in front of people they know are similar to them, or even confront members of the opposite sex without feeling like they are creating an awkward situation. At this age, interactions with the opposite sex are very important to the development of self-esteem and a feeling of beginning to enter the adult world. The social benefits of weight loss camps are just as important as the physical benefits.
Ultimately, everyone needs to feel like they belong somewhere. Weight loss camps provide an environment where your teen will not feel out of place. Teens need to feel accepted and like they are supported in whatever goal they are trying to achieve, whether losing weight, making friends, or simply being more social.
