Years ago people referred to them as fat camps places for children to go to quickly lose weight. The show The Biggest Loser has a similar approach where participants go to live on a ranch, eat healthy, work out constantly and in the end lose weight. Modern day camps are still available for teens who want, and in many cases, need to lose weight for their overall health. But is sending them away for the entire summer the best way for them to lose weight? Wellspring is an organization that has camps all over the United States, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, Texas to Hawaii. It claims to not be a fat camp because it helps children learn to sustain weight loss. Most campers keep off the 30 or so pounds they lose at camp, the web site states.

 

Camps are designed for children 11 to 18, and while they are at camp they also get to indulge in summer activities, including canoeing, rafting, hiking and biking and the usual summer camp stuff. While there, the children also get lessons in healthy eating and workouts along with counseling on nutrition and keeping off weight by making good decision. Alumni of the camp get a reduced tuition to go back each summer to boost more weight loss. Is this the best way for people to lose drastic weight? Is it necessary to send people to a camp or spa for them to learn about how to be healthy? Is it possible for people to get with the program and make health choices on their own without being cloistered in a sterile nonfat environment?

 

For more information, go to www.wellspringcamps.com. Even if you are not interested in sending kids off to camp, the web site has healthy recipes, a BMI calculator and other weight loss tools and tips.