Weight Camps for Kids

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 and 2008 found an obesity rate of about 17 percent among children and adolescents between the ages of 2 and 19 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity leads to a higher risk for chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, asthma and diabetes. Weight camps for kids can be residential programs in the same settings as other children's summer camps. These programs can help children lose weight and gain healthy habits that can last for years.

Purpose

The underlying goal of most weight camps for kids is to help overweight or obese children move toward a healthy weight. Obese children are at high risk for developing into obese adults, and a child who loses excess weight at a weight camp can interfere with this progression. Beyond simply dropping pounds, the purpose should be to improve long-term physical and emotional health. A weight camp for kids has the potential to improve their self-esteem as well as their diets and exercise routines.

Staff

Staff members determine the atmosphere at a weight camp for kids. Counselors have substantial interactions with the children under their charge, and they have the potential to make the session positive for their children. Often, camp counselors have overcome personal weight issues or are even former campers at that camp. Having this background gives counselors empathy for their campers, and it strengthens the bond between counselors and campers. Children at weight camps may perceive their own goals to be achievable if they know that their counselors have gone through similar situations.

Food

The meal plan plays a central role in weight camps for kids. Weight camp menus can cut calories from children's diets by providing smaller portions or by using lower-calorie foods or recipes. According to KidsHealth from Nemours, children who are overweight or obese should focus on healthy eating habits, such as eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and decreasing portions of high-fat or high-sugar foods. A weight camp provides an opportunity for experts such as dietitians to teach children that healthy eating does not need to mean eliminating their favorite foods.

Activities

KidsHealth from Nemours states that the best way for children to stay at a healthy weight is to be active. Physical activity burns calories to help manage weight. Weight camps for kids include exercise activities such as team sports, swimming, dance lessons or adventure sports. The focus of the activities is to engage children and make exercise fun so that children will continue to incorporate physical activity into their daily lives at home. Many weight camps for kids also offer sedentary activities such as arts and crafts.

Emotional Aspects

According to the CDC, childhood overweight or obesity often cause emotional trauma from social stigma to poor self-esteem. Weight-loss camps for kids can address these issues by providing a safe environment. Camp staff should work with parents to encourage campers and give them the tools they need to lose weight and develop good habits. Children who attend weight-loss camps can build supportive friendships, and their confidence levels often increase after camp. Children with higher self-esteem may lose more weight at camp because they feel capable of controlling their choices.