When weight-loss camp is too expensive
Categories: Teens & tweens, Money & work, Places to go, Health & safety, Eating & nutrition, Medical conditions, Environment, Education, Mealtime, Resources
Being overweight is tough for a kid. There are many options toward weight loss, but some are more (or less) appealing than others. For many, over the years, the weight-loss camp has been a dream. But, while "fat camp" is almost as American as apple pie, it's now going the way of many other American dreams--it's too darned expensive to attend. Like any other camp, weight-loss camp costs money to run and maintain. With more than nine million children who are considered obese in this country, such camp can seem like a knight in shining armor for families struggling to get their kids' weight under control. The weight-loss camps, while they can be affective, are far from free. Few to none accept insurance.
The government generally offers no more assistance than insurance companies. Instead the children rely on their essay writing skills and other means to win scholarships to attend. Yes, even weight loss camp is something only possible for the rich. Corporate sponsorship is one way to help get kids who can't afford the often more than $1,000-a-week pricetag what they need. Advocacy groups are being formed, such as the Childhood Obesity Treatment in Action. Some tax deductions are coming into play, and some insurance is starting to cover a portion of the cost--mostly in the cognitive behavior area.
But is it enough? Rarely. And financial cost is to say nothing of the emotional cost to the children, who are often left with either feeling exploited by their situation--their essays and their experiences become the property of the camp, who share that information freely with the media in hopes of growing the industry--and/or have to deal with life after camp, which can be even harder than before they found their salvation. While most children lose some portion of their body weight at the camps, few manage to keep it off after returning to the real world.
Pic by skampy.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Adrienne 8-18-2008 @ 11:45AM
From what I've seen, weight loss camp isn't really a solution, anyway. I've seen several documentaries on these camps, and the kids they profile never manage to keep the weight off after camp. Two of the girls on The Biggest Loser were actually counselors at Camp Shane, a popular weight loss camp. I find it ironic that the counselors themselves were so overweight that they had to go on the Biggest Loser.
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Jenn 8-18-2008 @ 12:21PM
I agree with Adrienne; I can't see where "fat camps" are really benefiting anyone. I am a much bigger fan of the programs that target FAMILY changes to encourage healthy living. And many of those are actually run or sponsored by employers, health insurance companies, and local,state, and federal government agencies. They are much more accessible AND much cheaper too!
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ninainindia 8-18-2008 @ 12:23PM
I also don't believe in these camps. Losing the weight and keeping it off is all about finding a right pattern in every day life, a camp won't fix that.
Also, the parents will not change the cooking/eating habits so the child falls back into the unhealthy lifestyle when back home.
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Kam Wilson 9-21-2008 @ 1:18PM
Well, I guess if you're desperate (and sometimes I wish a few more parents were), the money might be worth it. Consider all the $$ being spent on uncomfortable health related issues because of obesity. Getting weight under control is a foundational issue to saving loads of money in the long run. Being overweight costs...pure and simple. It costs in bigger and bigger clothes, more food to feed the weight, diabetes and other related health care costs, depression, etc. It's not cheap to be overweight, no matter how you look at it.
I applaud parents who take the initiative to help their kids develop healthy bodies from childhood. If the parent doesn't have the intestinal fortitude or time, or whatever it takes to get the kids some help themselves, sending them to camp is a fantastic option!
Just my two cents :)
Kam from over at http://www.squidoo.com/calorieshiftingdiets
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