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.

While most kids do not worry about whether or not they are obese, all kids worry about what other kids think of them.  Therefore, obesity affects each child differently; some kids are outgoing enough that they are not teased about their weight, and are therefore not bothered by it, but many kids do suffer as a result of their condition.

However, it can be difficult for a parent to convince even a frequently-teased obese child to consider diet and exercise.  Kids often do not see the importance of restraint or how learning to restrain themselves could result in their leading happier lives.  For a child, habits are not a matter of choice, but a matter of the way things are and will always be.

The best time to introduce changes to your child’s habits and routines is when other changes are already occurring – between school years or when your child is getting ready to transition to a new school.  All the changes that will already be going on in your child’s life will make the new habit seem less intruding.

Perhaps as a parent you are worried about your obese child or teen suffering from the cruelty of his or her classmates?  Most parents can tell or at least get a feeling of when their child is not happy or is suffering from torments at school.  Such torments inevitably manifest themselves through changes in your child’s mood or disposition.  You know your child better than anyone else does; it is important to be perceptive.

High school in particular brings a lot of very difficult changes.  A high school student’s environment is completely different from that of any other environment he or she has ever encountered.  This is particularly terrifying for a person who is insecure about his or her weight and/or appearance.

Most teens use their summer break from school to improve their looks or otherwise increase their chances of being accepted when school starts back up again.  A weight loss camp is a great way to help your teen feel ready to start school confidently in the fall.

Not only do weight loss camps help kids lose weight while having fun, but they also give kids an opportunity to learn valuable information about nutrition that will serve them in planning healthy diets for the rest of their lives.

Additionally, the exercise habits adopted at teen weight loss camps are fun and will provide a foundation for a life full of confidence and good health that will help your teen see his or her life in a more positive way.

The summer is the perfect time for your child to make a decision either to start the next year the way he or she is, or to start changing for the better. Make the right decision; persuade your child to take this step toward a happier and more productive school year and a better, healthier life.