Fat Kid? How to Choose a Safe and Healthy Weight Loss Camp

Weight Loss Camps Are a Healthy Way to Get Kids' Fitness Habits Back on Track

Em Robbins
Summer is definitely bikini season for adults. Don't forget that adults are not the only ones who worry about keeping slim and looking good. Even kids feel the pressure to keep the weight off, and there are plenty of summer camps that will help your precious children get their unhealthy extra weight off in a safe, healthy, fun and nature-filled atmosphere. Some people call these weight-loss facilities fat camps, but they are more commonly referred to as weight loss camps or health camps for kids.

Safety is the most important factor in choosing a weight loss camp

Above all, when you're looking for a summer camp or any kind of activity for your children, researching the reviews of the activity is essential. Your child is going to be far away from you at camp, so make sure you do thorough research on the safety reputation of the camp you are considering. It's also a good idea to look for parents who have sent their children to the camp so you can get their opinions on the safety, fun and effectiveness of the camp.

When searching for a weight loss summer camp for your kids, make sure that the chosen summer camp has a healthy weight loss goal for your kids and provides tasty and nutritious meals. Starving yourself does take some weight off eventually, but it's not good for children to fast and the weight they lose by eating too little will not stay off. A healthy weight loss rate is about two to five pounds per week.

Good weight loss camps harbor a healthy atmosphere for self-esteem building

Unless your child is a fan of the fine military services our country has to offer, boot camps are too harsh an environment for most children. Athough boot-camp style weight loss camps can help build self-esteem, they can be detrimental to the self-esteem of your child if the boot camp atmosphere is not handled with care, or if the child is especially sensitive. Unless your child has already experienced some weight loss camps, it is best to enroll your child in a weight loss camp that teaches good eating habits with care and sensitivity to your child's needs.

Fitness professionals can help get your child off to the right start at Camp Jump Start

Another well-known camp which is for both girls and boys is Camp Jump Start. Camp Jump Start is an accredited campground with the American Camping Association. This camp features dorms and cabins for the kids, which is set on a landscape of about 250 acres. Camp Jump Start is for kids ages nine to 17 years. This camp has both a lake and pool on-site. Camp Jump Start pairs your kids with fitness and health professionals and other staff who aim to guide your child to a healthier life with fitness activities and education about health, eating and fitness.

Fitness Can Be Fun at Camp Shane

Camp Shane is a weight loss camp that offers 3, 6, and 9 week sessions. This camp is co-educational and focuses on making physical activity fun. If your child is one that hates P.E. class, sports, or running, this camp will help them change their mind about exercise being boring. They offer performance awards and general silliness during camp that helps rev up even the most anti-exercise weight loss camper.

Female-only camps are a comfortable option for adolescent girls at Camp Kaizen

Being overweight can be detrimental for pre-teen girls who are awkwardly growing into their bodies. If your pre-teen girl is overweight, being around the boys can make awkward growth periods even more awkward. In that case, it might be a good idea to send her to an all-girl camp to help her build self esteem and positive eating and fitness habits.

Camp Kaizen is a five week weight loss and fitness camp in Vermont that is for young girls who are between the ages of 10 and 14. The goal of the counselors is to provide training and good fitness habits that your teenaged girls will be able to use at home.

For young women in their later teens, try Camp La Jolla

Camp La Jolla is a weight loss camp that specializes in teens, and it has special programs for both males and females who are interested in healthy weight loss. Set in the beautiful beaches of La Jolla, California, Camp La Jolla has a notable program for women in their late teens who are approaching college to help them avoid the notorious freshman 15. Fitness activities at Camp La Jolla are not limited to the beach; campers enjoy trips to the surrounding zoos, theme parks and shopping areas as part of their exercise experience.

For a more famous all-girl program, Camp California Fitness offers a complete experience

Situated in the beautiful hills of Northern California, Camp California Fitness is a media-renowned fitness program that addresses all of the obstacles that stand in the way of a young woman's healthy lifestyle. In addition to exercise and motivation, Camp California Fitness helps address the medical and psychological reasons that might render your child unable to maintain a healthy weight for her happiest lifestyle.

Remember: before your kids get healthy, they need to be safe, so make sure that the camp you choose is a safe place with a loving environment for building self-esteem and good health and fitness habits for your child to carry though a lifetime.

Published by Em Robbins

West Coast composer and entertainment writer with a focus on arts, music and media scenes. Contact me at EmRobbinsWrites@gmail.com.  View profile

  • Kids feel pressure to keep the weight off, sometimes even more than adults.
  • Boot camps are too harsh for most children.
  • Get reviews from parents who have already sent their kids to a "fat camp".
A female-only camping atmosphere can be a good option for adolescent girls.

3 Comments

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  • Doctor7/14/2009

    hanks. Nice article.

  • Snowden Trouper2/3/2009

    Haha. I wish "Fat" wasn't an insult. It's so tasty!

  • Susan Anderson1/19/2009

    the title is kind of cruel, but good info given :)

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