NORWOOD, N.J., March 31, 2011 — As summer is fast approaching, parents are considering options to keep their kids occupied. If a child is struggling with weight (whether it's 10 or 100 pounds), wants to get in shape and increase their self-confidence, parents may want to consider a sleep away weight loss camp.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that childhood obesity affects approximately 12.5 million children and teens in the United States (17% of that population). Specialized weight loss camps, like Tony Sparber's Camp Pocono Trails, which are American Camping Association (ACA) accredited*, attempt to change this statistic and help end the childhood obesity epidemic that is destroying American youth.
Overweight children are often faced with obstacles such as:
- Developing heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes
- Ostracization from classmates and Stigmatization
- Low self esteem / Depression
- Being Bullied
If this sounds familiar, Sparber suggests urging the child to attend a camp where they can get in shape, meet like-minded friends their own age, and most of all, have a good time.
"A fun, well-rounded environment is the best type of camp," Sparber says. He urges parents to keep these points in mind when choosing a weight loss camp:
- How is the facility structured and run?
- Ask the director for references from former campers
- What activity does the camp offer and will they pique a child's interest?
- How many children are in the child's age group?
- Is there a personal touch at the camp?
- Does the camp have ACA accreditation?*
- What is the ratio of counselors to campers?
- How much "downtime" are the kids given to socialize and unwind?
- Conduct interviews with several different camps to see how they compare
- Is the camp facility privately owned or on a college campus?
It's important to keep in mind that some camps are operated on private camp facilities while others are hosted on college university campuses (which sometimes house multiple summer camps concurrently).
As a parent, it's best to have a clear understanding of the education provided, levels of activity expected, and the goal setting techniques used to track progress.
It is also vital to understand the role families play when a child returns home. Parents should be responsible for upholding the concepts kids learn and should set good examples throughout the school year.
About Camp Pocono Trails
Tony Sparber is the founder/owner of the ACA Accredited Camp Pocono Trails in Reeders, PA. Camp Pocono Trails is designed to provide the most comprehensive summer weight-loss program for pre-teens and teenagers in the country. Camp Pocono Trails has been featured on two MTV documentaries, "Fat Camp" and "Return to Fat Camp," as well as on Ruby, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, The Today Show, and in the pages of People Magazine and The New York Times, among others. For additional information, call 1-800-365-0556 or visit http://www.newimagecamp.com.
* ACA accreditation ensures that the camp has regular, independent safety audits that go beyond regulations in most states. To be accredited, camps must first comply with up to 26 mandatory prerequisite health and safety standards and must demonstrate substantial compliance with up to forty additional standards in ten operational areas. ACA standards cover all aspects of camp operation, including: programming, personnel, health care, management practices, site/food service, and transportation.
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