Going back several years, people used the term “fat camp” was used to describe he camps that we now refer to as weight loss camps for kids. These camps also had a pretty bad reputation of treating children relatively cruelly. The camps today are quite different. Today, there area also more overweight kids than ever before, so if you have an overweight child, take comfort in know that he or she is not alone. If you’ve decided to investigate the option of sending your child off to a fat camp, you may be looking in to one of the best things that you can do for your child.

However, not ever weight loss summer camps is equal. There are some key factors that you need to keep in mind while you make your comparisons.

First, make sure the camp you choose has a healthy approach to weight loss. They should offer plenty of healthful food that won’t starve your child. See if you can get a sample of the daily menu and make sure that it includes veggies, fruit, lean proteins, non-fat dairy products, and plenty of whole grains.

Another thing to consider is whether or not plenty of exercise activities are offered along with opportunities to get emotional support or counseling from professionals. Many overweight children also suffer from self-esteem and other emotional problems. Combating them is important in the path to living a healthier life.

Third, make sure that the camp and your family sets realistic goals for your child. Children don’t lose weight in the same way that adults do because children aren’t yet full grown. Instead of shedding a ton of pounds, many kids shed some pounds and slowly grow in to their healthy weight as time goes on. Children that lose weight too fast are rarely successful in the long term.

One last thing to consider is the kind of activities that your child will be participating in while at teen weight loss camp – they should be fun. Adults generally lose weight by running on treadmills, doing crunches, and spending more time at the gym. Kids (and most adults) don’t really enjoy these activities and will quickly lose interest and motivation. Instead, look for camps that have children exercise by playing games, going swimming, and so on.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 28th, 2009 at 9:59 pm and is filed under Childrens Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.