Monday, February 22, 2010
Time Magazine Features Wellspring
The issue of Time Magazine currently on newsstands features the weight loss stories of two Wellspring Academies students. The students discuss their feelings about being obese, and what their time at Wellspring has taught them about living a healthy lifestyle.
A big thanks to Elizabeth and Freddy for sharing such personal stories and inspiring so many individuals.
To view an online slide show of article, click here.
To read more about Time's coverage of Wellspring, click here.
The issue of Time Magazine currently on newsstands features the weight loss stories of two Wellspring Academies students. The students discuss their feelings about being obese, and what their time at Wellspring has taught them about living a healthy lifestyle.A big thanks to Elizabeth and Freddy for sharing such personal stories and inspiring so many individuals.
To view an online slide show of article, click here.
To read more about Time's coverage of Wellspring, click here.
Labels: Childhood obesity, Fat Camp, Fat camps, obesity programs
posted by Wellspring Camps at 7:26 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 15, 2010
Is Soda the New Cigarette?
In many people's eyes, soda is very much "the new tobacco." And with a sin tax being contemplated to discourage soda consumption and help offset the rising costs of caring for the nation's obese individuals, the comparison seems to be gaining ground.
Those in the sugared beverage industry say that the comparison isn't valid because sugared soda is not addictive. However, with the average American consuming 50 gallons of soda per year (yikes!), it's hard to argue that soda doesn't have some addictive qualities, even if that addiction is more emotional or social than physical. Soda is clearly what people turn to when they think of a beverage.
Obviously, one food/beverage item cannot be blamed for a nationwide epidemic of obesity. But what if the amount of soda consumed by kids was cut down significantly? 50 gallons of soda in a year equals approximately 200,000 extra calories in a year--calories that offer NO health benefits. Essentially that is 200,000 calories of poison that our bodies have to process.
In terms of weight loss, those extra calories make an incredible difference. If you cut the 200,000 calories out--simply by not drinking soda--it would equal a weight loss of approximately 50 pounds in a year. That one change could significantly cut down the obesity problem in this country.
With Michelle Obama's request that we all consider these small changes to help the obesity problem, consider what you can do today to support your families' healthier lifestyle.
You might start by visiting our selection of healthy, low-fat recipes available by clicking here.
Those in the sugared beverage industry say that the comparison isn't valid because sugared soda is not addictive. However, with the average American consuming 50 gallons of soda per year (yikes!), it's hard to argue that soda doesn't have some addictive qualities, even if that addiction is more emotional or social than physical. Soda is clearly what people turn to when they think of a beverage.
Obviously, one food/beverage item cannot be blamed for a nationwide epidemic of obesity. But what if the amount of soda consumed by kids was cut down significantly? 50 gallons of soda in a year equals approximately 200,000 extra calories in a year--calories that offer NO health benefits. Essentially that is 200,000 calories of poison that our bodies have to process.
In terms of weight loss, those extra calories make an incredible difference. If you cut the 200,000 calories out--simply by not drinking soda--it would equal a weight loss of approximately 50 pounds in a year. That one change could significantly cut down the obesity problem in this country.
With Michelle Obama's request that we all consider these small changes to help the obesity problem, consider what you can do today to support your families' healthier lifestyle.
You might start by visiting our selection of healthy, low-fat recipes available by clicking here.
Labels: Let's Move, low fat cooking, Low-fat recipes
posted by Wellspring Camps at 8:14 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Michelle Obama Leads Campaign Against Obesity
By this point, most Americans are aware that we we are dealing with a major epidemic of obesity among our nation's children--a problem that is likely to cause major health and emotional issues for individuals and families, as well as major economic issues as the nation struggles to handle the increased health care needs of obese and overweight individuals.
In response to the issue, First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled her campaign to deal with childhood obesity. Her plan, called the "Let's Move" campaign, involves the cooperation and input of lawmakers as well as top-level food executives and pediatricians.
Here are some highlights:
By no means is the Let's Move campaign going to be a quick fix. But we're hoping that this will at least help to better educate families, doctors, and the individuals who make our kids' food and beverages about the realities and dangers of childhood obesity.
In response to the issue, First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled her campaign to deal with childhood obesity. Her plan, called the "Let's Move" campaign, involves the cooperation and input of lawmakers as well as top-level food executives and pediatricians.
Here are some highlights:
- Food industry executives have pledged to reduce the amount of sugar in school lunches
- Bevarage makers have promised to more clearly label sugary drinks
- The American Academy of Pediatrics has announced that it will begin encouraging its members to measure BMI among young patients
By no means is the Let's Move campaign going to be a quick fix. But we're hoping that this will at least help to better educate families, doctors, and the individuals who make our kids' food and beverages about the realities and dangers of childhood obesity.
Labels: Childhood obesity, Let's Move, Wellspring Camps
posted by Wellspring Camps at 2:49 PM
0 comments
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wellspring Academies Featured on Rachael Ray Show
The good folks at the Rachael Ray Show flew out to Wellspring Academy of California to surprise our students with a full makeover. Thanks to Rachael Ray for recognizing our students' hard work and amazing weight loss success. As one of our students said during the segment (which aired on Tuesday)... "You have to realize that you never reach the point of no return. You can always turn yourself around."
To see a clip from the show, click here.
To see a clip from the show, click here.
posted by Wellspring Camps at 6:32 AM
0 comments
Monday, February 1, 2010
Mental Health Parity
The Obama Administration has issued a new set of rules that require all employer-sponsored health insurance plans to provide equal treatment for mental and physical health. This is a significant move forward for those who have struggled to get help paying for the mental health component (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) of illnesses that have serious implications for physical health (such as being overweight or obese).
This new set of rules, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2010, addresses the reality that we see regularly at Wellspring--long-term success in handling the physical issue of being overweight requires significant behavioral modification, which happens through treatment classified as "mental health." Without a strong mental health component, an adolescent weight loss program is likely to have little lasting impact on physical health.
This ruling is great news for families who are seeking comprehensive, integrated treatment for problems such as a child's obesity. Families should talk to their insurance company to see what the specific changes in their plan will be.
This new set of rules, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2010, addresses the reality that we see regularly at Wellspring--long-term success in handling the physical issue of being overweight requires significant behavioral modification, which happens through treatment classified as "mental health." Without a strong mental health component, an adolescent weight loss program is likely to have little lasting impact on physical health.
This ruling is great news for families who are seeking comprehensive, integrated treatment for problems such as a child's obesity. Families should talk to their insurance company to see what the specific changes in their plan will be.
Labels: Childhood obesity, Fat Camp, Fat camps
posted by Wellspring Camps at 5:49 AM
0 comments
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Take a moment to check out this tv commercial by clicking here.
The commercial, as you'll notice, is a promotion for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). It's not saying that HFCS is good for you or telling you why you should eat products that contain it. It's simply suggesting you should eat or drink it because you don't really understand why it's bad for you.
And if you follow the link at the end of the commercial, you'll find in very small print that it's part of a campaign brought to you by--surprise!!--the Corn Refiners Association.
This play on ignorance is a trend in food advertising that is really disturbing and quite insulting to the intelligence of the average consumer. Do most people really understand the biology behind why smoking is harmful to us? No. But it clearly is. If the tobacco industry created an ad campaign that suggested it's okay for children to smoke because parents don't really understand why its bad for them, parents would be outraged.
What the ad fails to mention is that one of the main reasons that HFCS has been used as a sweetener in so many foods is because it is much cheaper to produce than sugar, making possible the Super Sized sodas and other gigantic nutritional nightmares that are so popular in the U.S. The result: More money in the pockets of those who produce and sell junk foods and junk beverages. And a lot more overweight children.
Has HFCS caused the obesity epidemic in this country? Absolutely not. But has it helped fuel the problem? Yes.
The take-away from this ad campaign: Junk food is very big business. Be wary of what you believe. The Corn Refiners Association is likely made up of good people who are just doing their jobs and trying to feed their families. But that does not mean they are looking out for your family.
The commercial, as you'll notice, is a promotion for High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). It's not saying that HFCS is good for you or telling you why you should eat products that contain it. It's simply suggesting you should eat or drink it because you don't really understand why it's bad for you.
And if you follow the link at the end of the commercial, you'll find in very small print that it's part of a campaign brought to you by--surprise!!--the Corn Refiners Association.
This play on ignorance is a trend in food advertising that is really disturbing and quite insulting to the intelligence of the average consumer. Do most people really understand the biology behind why smoking is harmful to us? No. But it clearly is. If the tobacco industry created an ad campaign that suggested it's okay for children to smoke because parents don't really understand why its bad for them, parents would be outraged.
What the ad fails to mention is that one of the main reasons that HFCS has been used as a sweetener in so many foods is because it is much cheaper to produce than sugar, making possible the Super Sized sodas and other gigantic nutritional nightmares that are so popular in the U.S. The result: More money in the pockets of those who produce and sell junk foods and junk beverages. And a lot more overweight children.
Has HFCS caused the obesity epidemic in this country? Absolutely not. But has it helped fuel the problem? Yes.
The take-away from this ad campaign: Junk food is very big business. Be wary of what you believe. The Corn Refiners Association is likely made up of good people who are just doing their jobs and trying to feed their families. But that does not mean they are looking out for your family.
Labels: Childhood obesity, Fat Camp, Fat camps, obesity programs
posted by Wellspring Camps at 6:57 AM
0 comments
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Eating Fewer Calories When You Dine Out
It's not uncommon for people to throw caution to the wind when they're eating out at a restaurant. Even people who conscientiously plan their meals at home often allow themselves to forget their larger health goals when they are eating out at a restaurant.
One major problem with this mindset is that people eat out a lot. If eating out at a restaurant is truly a rare treat for you, concern for fat and calories consumed at a restaurant may not be such a big priority. But for those of us who regularly grab a breakfast, lunch or dinner at our favorite local restaurant, not paying attention to the content of our meals out can pose a big risk to staying inline with a healthy lifestyle.
And most restaurants do not list any nutritional information on their menus. Healthy food choices are not necessarily intuitive at many restaurants, where salads often have more calories and fat than burgers. In fact, many of the salads offered at chain restaurants have a caloric load of 1,000 calories or more.
A recent study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University confirms that diners' food choices can be positively affected by listing both the calories in a meal and the recommended daily caloric intake for adults (around 2,000 calories). The study confirmed that diners' intake of fat and calories dropped considerably when the menu listed BOTH the caloric value of the meals and the 2000 calorie recommendation.
It is odd that we expect to see nutritional information on all of the items we buy in a store, but not in a restaurant--especially given the popularity of chain restaurants. Until public policy changes on this issue, keep your Calorie King handy at all times--especially when dining out.
One major problem with this mindset is that people eat out a lot. If eating out at a restaurant is truly a rare treat for you, concern for fat and calories consumed at a restaurant may not be such a big priority. But for those of us who regularly grab a breakfast, lunch or dinner at our favorite local restaurant, not paying attention to the content of our meals out can pose a big risk to staying inline with a healthy lifestyle.
And most restaurants do not list any nutritional information on their menus. Healthy food choices are not necessarily intuitive at many restaurants, where salads often have more calories and fat than burgers. In fact, many of the salads offered at chain restaurants have a caloric load of 1,000 calories or more.
A recent study by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University confirms that diners' food choices can be positively affected by listing both the calories in a meal and the recommended daily caloric intake for adults (around 2,000 calories). The study confirmed that diners' intake of fat and calories dropped considerably when the menu listed BOTH the caloric value of the meals and the 2000 calorie recommendation.
It is odd that we expect to see nutritional information on all of the items we buy in a store, but not in a restaurant--especially given the popularity of chain restaurants. Until public policy changes on this issue, keep your Calorie King handy at all times--especially when dining out.
Labels: Fat Camp, Fat camps, Wellspring Plan
posted by Wellspring Camps at 7:33 AM
0 comments
