New Image Camp’s Tony Sparber joins Lisa Defazio, MS, RD, on her radio shoe Getting Real to talk about weight management for kids and teens- summer camps and the healthy approach.
Sparber runs two kids weight loss camps, Camp Pocono Trails and Camp Vanguard.
Check out the interview here.
Kids weight loss camps such as Camp Pocono Trails continue to become more and more popular as the number of obese children in the United States continues to rise. And there’s no wondering why as recent studies show that nearly one third of the American children population are overweight, and have high risk of becoming obese.
Obesity or excessive weight poses plenty of problems for children.
Type 2 diabetes is becoming increasingly evident in children, and mostly occurs in obese or overweight kids. If your child is overweight or obese, then he faces this danger, as well as other possible health risks as well. With that, more and more parents are slowly sending their children to weight loss summer camps in the hopes of helping their kids become healthier children.
Obese children have a higher risk of developing heart disease over children who are not overweight. A child’s life expectancy may also be lowered by as much as three to five years if he continues to remains overweight. Excess weight of the body causes strain on almost all the organs – and this can be detrimental to your child since his organs and organ systems are still developing. Overweight children may also suffer from liver disease, owing to the extra fat stored in the liver. He may also have an increased risk of brain pressure – which causes headaches or vision problems. Gallstones, acid reflux and other complications of the digestive tract are also more likely to occur.
As a parent, you may find this very alarming. But, this is true and it happens to plenty of children all around the world. But, there are also other dangers caused by obesity that most of us tend to overlook. Over and on top of all these health issues, obesity can also take a toll on the self esteem and confidence of your child.
The world is a cruel place for obese and overweight children – they hear the media obsess on skinny and thin, students and other children in school bully, tease and ridicule them. Even in a school with plenty of overweight children, studies show that it is the obese children that usually get picked on the most. Any child who has to go through these very difficult and demeaning experiences is more likely to suffer from depression; he is also inclined to eat more, causing a very difficult cycle to break out from. External factors can play a role on how your child perceives his or her appearance and self – worth, and this can take a toll on his confidence and self esteem, causing his social skills to suffer. It’s a difficult and sad thought, but some obese children are even bullied into suicide.
It’s not enough to speak to your child and tell them that you love and care for him despite his weight. While this is a very crucial step in letting him know that you are there for him, your child (with your help) will need to take more action.
One good way to help your child combat obesity is by involving him in kids weight loss camps such as Camp Pocono Trails. Just like typical summer camps or kids camps, weight loss summer camps allow your child to be in a healthy and accepting environment where he can meet friends, get active learn valuable lessons about eating and living healthy. A month or several weeks in weight loss camps like these can be a stepping stone to helping him reverse obesity, giving him the chance to live life as an individual who is healthier and more confident as well.
According to the National Center for Disease Control, obesity among children is on the rise despite numerous programs put into place to control it. In fact, they define our society as “obesogenic” and sadly, the newest victims are children. Initiatives have been put into place in public schools and by the influx of kids weight loss camps available to help children lose weight. The problem is that many children and their parents are confused about healthy eating habits, nutrition, and the appropriate amount of physical activity. There is no denying that children today are not as active as they were just a decade ago. However, when parents remain diligent about following healthy eating habits in the home and promote activity over sedentary activities, children can become at less risk of becoming obese.
Many parents wonder when the right time to teach and preach fitness and health really is. Experts say, as soon as possible. Even a toddler can understand the difference between eating an apple versus cookies for a snack. Since most children will choose the apple, it is imperative that parents make clear choices for their children and explain them along the way. When toddlers and elementary school students are taught to respect nutritious foods and realize how they can help them stay healthy, it will become second nature to make right choices.
Additionally, fitness among families should be a priority. It is difficult to force your children to exercise when they see you doing nothing and engaging in bad habits that hurt your health. If parents fill the pantry with junk food, then naturally children will gravitate towards them. However, when junk food is not an option – children have no choice but to be delighted with healthy foods. Also, parents are responsible for monitoring the amount of food that children put into their body. If you have a young child and they seem to eat too much, try to help them understand the difference between eating for hunger and eating out of boredom.
Many of the kids weight loss camps available today are family inclusive and can help parents and children learn the truths about nutrition and healthy lifestyle before it becomes a problem. Some kids fitness camps, tailored to children as young as 5, enroll a parent and child as partners so both can become aware of what it takes to remain a healthy weight and stay physically fit. There are also plenty of ideas for families to get active, many sponsored through the government and
schools that give families a comprehensive plan to physical fitness.
The long-term effects of obesity among children are catastrophic. It is obvious that the culture of fast foods – whether from a restaurant or grocery store, are having a detrimental impact on today’s children. In order to combat obesity and keep children healthy, children must be taught early in life about the importance of eating right and staying physically active. It is never too young to start. You will be thoroughly surprised at just how much your children understand, and how eager they are to make healthy choices that will keep them from becoming another statistic. If you have children that are at risk, the time to act is NOW.
If you make health a priority in your home and teach your children early in life that health and fitness are important, they will be healthier. Studies also suggest that they will be at a reduced risk for depression and learning disabilities along with a wide array of health problems. Kids weight loss camps or kids fitness camps are a great place to start but the bottom line is that the instruction and tone needs to be set early in life, at home. Parents really do and can make a radical difference in the state of wellness experienced by their children. The best part is that by making one change a week, you will be making a huge difference in your child’s life that will last a lifetime.
Camp Pocono Trails | P.O. Box 417, Norwood, NJ 07648 | 1-800-365-0556
