One of the major problems with helping children lose weight is what goes on when the kids are out of the house. For most children this is largely time that they spend at school. No matter what you do at home as a parent to help control their diet or get them more active, the unfortunate truth is that parents have little control over what takes place at school.

Let’s first look at lunch time. The food that most cafeterias offer is generally poor quality and not nutritious. It’s often made with refined carbohydrates and a lot of fat. Popular kid’s meals at school include: pizza, instant mashed potatoes, french fries, battered fish, tacos, and chicken nuggets. Kids undoubtedly love these kinds of meals, but they do nothing for helping to contribute to a healthy diet. As a parent, you can do things like send your child to school with a healthy lunch that you prepare, but ultimately they will be the one that decides whether or not to eat the lunch you prepare.

Second, consider physical education classes and recess. Schools have had their budgets cut and this has meant that school children no longer have physical education every day. The educational demands on our kids have also increased and this has resulted in recess times that have shrunk. Most schools have physical education lessons once or twice a week and each session typically only lasts 20 minutes – a far cry from the hour long sessions I remember from grade school and the daily P.E. classes I took in middle school.

To be fair, schools are not entirely to blame. Budget cuts have literally forced their hand in some of these cases. However, a combination of sitting at a desk for the majority of the day with little to no exercise and very, very few healthy eating choices in the cafeteria is not a good one.

While most parents cannot do much to control what goes on in the day-to-day activities of school, steps can be taken at home and within the family to make some changes. A weight loss camp for kids is a great way to help your child learn about the dangers associated with obesity, learn how to enjoy eating healthily, and give them the self confidence to get more involved in active events like organized sports or even informal activities with friends. Make sure that your kids eat a healthy breakfast and dinner every day, and encourage them to do something active every day after school instead of watching TV or playing video games. A family walk after dinner every night is another excellent idea.

Dealing with an obese child as a parent is not an easy task, especially when outside factors like time spent at school are considered. However, it is possible to make progress. For more information about the strategies used at Camp Pocono Trails or to learn more about our programs, check out our weight loss camps site.