If you have heard fat camp horror stories, you probably heard that the staff is mean and that it’s a miserable place to be. From a kid’s mindset, this may be true. Consider a child’s point of view:
- They have to eat foods they don’t like.
- They are forced to sweat and exercise.
- They are kept from having candy and snacks.
- They are limited or even restricted from video games, television, and other “inactivities.”
To a child, this is like punishment or torture. But now let’s look at what the staff is really doing.
- They are trying to teach children about healthy food choices.
- They are making them exercise to burn off excess fat.
- They are limiting the sugar and carb-filled snacks that add to the fat problem.
- They are teaching kids to be active as entertainment, to burn off calories and keep their weight in check.
In a child’s mind, it is not easy to see that the staff is really trying to help.
When a child goes to a fat camp, they should understand that the camp is a resource for the child to use to create a healthier lifestyle. They should understand that the members of the staff specialize in childhood obesity and are trying to make a difference in your child’s life. At camp, your child will be placed on a healthy diet and exercise routine. Even though it may seem like the army at times, some camps use this kind of tactic as a way of getting through to reluctant children that need a little push in the right direction.
Another advantage of a fat camp is the setting. There are other children there with the same problem that they can make friends with and confide in. Being surrounded by a group of peers with the same goals and objectives allows peer pressure to work in a positive manner, encouraging each individual to “do what everyone else is” and invest the time and energy into the program.
It is important as a parent to understand what will be happening at the camp and to get involved with your child’s health. Unfortunately, some children that go to fat camp and lose weight end up gaining all that weight back within weeks of returning home. Why is this? As a parent sometimes we look at camp as a solution. We believe that once our children are get back home that they are “cured” and can eat what they want. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Camp is the beginning of a lifelong process. Once our children get back home, we as parents have to help them stay on the same diet and exercise program that they learned at camp.
