Best Summer Camps
The reality that really bites Americans is that about 16 percent of kids aged 6 to 19 are overweight. This is a cause for alarm for many parents and that is the reason why they push their kids into weight loss camps during school break.
The concept of a weight loss camp is similar to the traditional camp where kids are given opportunities to learn, mingle, and have fun with other kids. The difference is that, at weight loss camps, there is much emphasis on shedding pounds to achieve a healthy weight. The camps are nurturing too, because the environment teems with supportive, non-critical people who would like to teach kids the value of staying fit and healthy.
The weight loss camp’s purpose is to address the growing problem of obesity among kids by introducing awareness through this age-old American tradition of summer camps. There are nutrition classes, regular weigh-ins, and aerobic exercise sessions included in the program. Sports and traditional camp activities are also a part of the schedule.
The goal of the organizers and counselors is to help the kids develop better eating habits and lose weight while at camp. The challenge though, is get the kids to continue to follow the new eating and exercise routines after they leave camp. Kids are like the rest of us, dieting is easier than eating sensibly for a lifetime.
Newer programs that target to change the behavior of the kids towards healthy eating are also being added. Special classes also aim to train them on self-regulation and provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so that campers can become more equipped to stay within their ideal weights when they leave the camp.
Weight loss camp is a great place for kids to enjoy the company of others who struggle with weight issues, learn basic nutrition, and develop a taste for exercise and calorie burning activities.
Recommended books about childhood obesity from Amazon:
- A Parent’s Guide to Childhood Obesity: A Roadmap to Health
- Overcoming Childhood Obesity
- Fed Up!: Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity
- Your Child’s Weight: Helping without Harming
2 Responses
Cassandra Elder
21|Apr|2009 1Want more information about obesity camps in Texas. Phone numbers, etc…
Camp Guide
21|Apr|2009 2Wellspring Texas has a summer camp for 11-18 year olds in San Marcos. The website is http://www.wellspringcamptexas.com/. I’m sure you will find lots of information there.
There are also a number of diabetic camps for kids in Texas. Just go to http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-camp/find-a-camp.jsp and scroll down until you see the five day camps in Texas. I’m not sure if they accept non-diabetics with weight problems, but it may be worth checking out.
American Camp Association has a Find a Camp search that you might be interested in checking out at http://find.acacamps.org/.
The ACA description of one of the Texas diabetes camps is at http://find.acacamps.org/cgi/details.cgi?id=18645
Some of the special needs summer camps for kids with disabilities or chronic illnesses may also accept kids with weight problems. These camps usually include staff with medical training.
You might want to contact your local YWCA or YMCA to see if they offer any programs that would help kids lose weight.
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