Teen obesity is a severe problem in the United States. Overweight teens are at risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and high cholesterol. In addition to the physical dangers, obese young women may suffer from low self-esteem and depression. Weight-loss camps for teenage girls can not only serve to reverse poor health habits, but teach kids how to live an active healthy life.
Considerations
Prior to packing your teen's bags and enrolling her in a weight loss camp, there are some issues to take into consideration. Teen buy-in is important. Sit down with your child and discuss the dangers of obesity along with the benefits of change. The Mayo Clinic recommends parents provide a gentle understanding and a willingness to help a daughter make wise decisions regarding her health. Explain how fad diets are not the answer and how lifestyle changes can make a difference in her long-term well-being and happiness.
Residential Programs
Comprehensive weight-loss training over a sustained period is a viable way to control weight and establish teen fitness. Wellspring Academy, a North Carolina boarding school close to Asheville, accepts girls ages 11 to 18. The academy offers an accredited curriculum and a staff that specializes in teen weight issues. Girls must commit to a minimum stay of four months. In addition to the academic and weight-loss program, Wellspring features culinary training to help teens become capable of maintaining nutritional goals.
Seasonal Programs
An ideal time to enter your teenage daughter in a weight-loss program is during a school break. Without homework demands and other distractions, teens can focus on restructuring their attitudes toward food and exercise. Many summer camp programs are designed to help kids commit to getting fit while having fun. Wellspring Adventure Camp, a sister organization of the Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas, runs Camp Hope each summer. Girls enjoy action packed days and nutritious, low-fat foods. Additionally, the camp features cognitive behavioral therapy sessions to help kids set goals and self monitor eating patterns.
Activity-based Programs
Some camps have a few mandatory classes for participants, but give girls the freedom to select others from a variety of activities. Designing an active daily schedule is the goal. At Camp Shining Stars, located at Barton College in Wilson, a mixture of sports, dance, yoga, cheer-leading, art and cooking classes is available. Camp director Ira Green maintains that girls can lose 7 to 17 percent of their total weight in a six-week session.
Features
Sending your daughter to a weight-loss camp is only part of the equation in reaching success. Camps stress family involvement. It is important that parents understand how to support a child when she returns to routine daily life. Behavioral coaches assigned to teens also work with the family by reporting a girl's progress. Wellspring offers three-day family workshops focused on teaching parents the science of weight control that culminate in the development a written program that teens follow at home.
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