Summer camps offer a variety of physical experiences, including swimming, hiking and boating.
Summer camps for overweight kids usually target teenage populations and promote healthy lifestyles through outdoor and adventure activities, supportive counseling methods from trained camp counselors, healthy diets and educational experiences. As a result, overweight kids have the opportunity to not only lose a few pounds, but to also gain a greater appreciation for healthy living while interacting with a peer group that has the same or similar struggles.
Weight-loss Camps versus Traditional Summer Camps
Some parents may struggle with sending their child to a weight-loss camp due to the stigma of "fat camps." However, the benefits of a weight-loss camp, besides losing weight, include teaching kids cook and prepare their own meals in a healthy way. Other benefits include reduced or eliminated teasing and bullying from other campers, since the social marginalization of children based on body image is eliminated. Weight-loss camps can also offer a multitude of non-competitive activities, including sports, which also are programmed to meet emotional development needs and creative expression, such as arts and crafts, drama and music.
Questions to Ask
In addition to typical summer camp questions, such as cost, duration and activities provided, a variety of other questions should be considered, specifically for camps geared towards an overweight population. Ask about the camp's diet plan and whether or not it offers nutrition and cooking classes. Depending on your child's background, you may also want to ask about the camp's sensitivity in their menu and staff training towards cultural diversity. You may also ask for studies showing how many campers lose a certain amount of weight, as well as what percentage of campers continue to live a healthy lifestyle after camp.
Reviews
Ask for reviews from previous campers before enrolling your teen or child in a summer camp. Some weight-loss camps utilize therapy sessions which can stigmatize impressionable teens and may seem a punishment for their image. However, other camps focus more on healthy lifestyles, experiences for building self-esteem and having fun rather than dealing with emotional issues related to being overweight. Making sure your child is comfortable with the camp they attend should be the most important deciding factor.
Accreditation
For summer camps, accreditation is often done through the American Camp Association (ACA), and carries with it a prestigious reputation for safety as well as programming and administrative excellence. One of the downsides of accreditation is the cost associated with membership dues and administrative efforts to keep with changing standards in the camping field. Although accreditation generally translates into a safe and professional camping environment, many camps are not accredited, yet have the same quality of professionalism. When considering a summer camp, request a safety/accident report from the previous year, even if the camp is already accredited by ACA.
Tags: summer camp, about camp, from previous, healthy lifestyles, weight-loss camp, your child