In a camp atmosphere where all the kids are overweight, the children lose the hesitant approach they use in their daily life.  Unfortunately, a large percentage of overweight kids don’t know how they will be received in most situations and have learned to be cautious.

These kids are sometimes accustomed to being stared at in public and teased in school.  They hear whispers when they walk by a group of kids.   Overweight boys, for example, get used to being the last person picked for a game during exercise periods at school.  Some adapt by using humor; others will become bullies themselves.

Overweight girls can be deeply hurt by comments about their size and often become loners or find another overweight girl to befriend.  Nothing hurts a parent more than seeing their child unhappy, but many times parents don’t know what they can do to help.  Often, well-meaning parents encourage their children to make friends or to date without realizing the damaged self image their child suffers due to their weight problems.

When teens attend what is commonly called “fat camp” (click to see why our camp is NOT a fat camp) they quickly notice they are no longer “different”.   For the first time in their life many kids are able to let their personality shine without worrying about calling attention to themselves.

Because all the teens have the same weight issue, the element of judging others based on appearance no longer applies.  Following the example set by camp counselors, teens support each other and encourage.  They counsel a friends and provide positive reinforcement for each other.

The most effective “therapy” at weight loss camps for kids may be the other kids at the camp.  Friendships are formed and kids are free to share stories with those who have had the same experiences.

For children who are the only overweight person in their family, the experience of time spent with other similar kids is priceless.   The lone overweight child is often exposed to ridicule from his own siblings who don’t understand his weight problems.  At camp, children blossom when they are encouraged and join a group of kids who encourage each other.   This brings out the best in each child and helps improve their self confidence and give them a new sense of worth and self image.

As we all know, losing weight comes down to two things – eating better and exercising more.  That is the formula that has worked for centuries and will continue to work for many more.  For parents of kids trying to lose weight, the common saying of “Do as I say, not as I do” will not work.  Put yourself in their shoes – would you want to sit down to a snack of carrots and celery while the rest of the people snacking with you ate cookies, chips, candy, etc?

So, if you’re making efforts to change the diet of your child, make sure you make similar changes in your diet.  As I mentioned previously, if your kid switches to diet soda or low fat milk, don’t keep regular soda and milk around the house for the rest of the family.  Prepare healthy meals for the entire family and don’t make the diet of one child “special.”  The support you provide by making the same changes as your child will go a long way…and it will benefit your personal health (and the health of the rest of the family) as well.

Since exercise and increased activity levels are equally important, you also need to be a good role model here too.  Set aside more time to play with your kids – take them to the park for a walk or to play on the playground if they’re still at that age.  If they’re a bit older, try things like hikes or playing a game of catch in the back yard.  Or you can do things like go to the local museum or zoo – though not really thought of as forms of exercise, these activities involve a lot of walking around to view the different exhibits – and they can be educational.

Televisions, computers, video games, and other “screens” are also an area where changes will likely need to be made.  Kids today spend more time than ever sitting down playing games, surfing the web, or watching television.  You can make this a family event with things like the Wii Fit that are video games that involve physical activity.  Additionally, be aware of how much time you spend watching TV or using the computer.  Your child will not feel very supported if you tell them they need to go play outside instead of watching TV if they know that you’re just going to watch TV while they’re outside.

Finally, encourage your kids to get involved in activities like organized sports and be supportive by attending their practices and games and providing encouragement.  Also, don’t limit them to the sports that you are familiar with or that you played when you were growing up.  If your kid expresses an interest in something that you’ve never heard of or know little about, make it a learning experience for everyone.

The key is to remain positive.  Summer weight loss camps are successful because they do a great job of removing kids from their “normal” routine, introducing new and fun activities, serving healthy foods, and creating a healthy and supportive environment where making some changes is easy.  With the right mindset and role modeling, parents can be an equally important part of helping their child develop a healthy lifestyle.