Fat Camps: How Wellspring Family Camp is Different
In attempting to help the entire family return to a healthy weight, you have undoubtedly heard the term 'fat camp'. The term 'fat camp' is often used in popular culture, but is not at all an accurate description for Wellspring Family Camp. As you make the decision about how best to solve the weight issue within your family, we want you to understand the ways in which Wellspring Family camp differs from a traditional fat camp.
Fat Camps Do Not Address the Family Dynamic
At traditional fat camps, kids go away for a period of weeks to lose weight. When they come home, they don't know how to integrate what was learned at camp with their home environment. Changes made at camp end up back at camp because campers weren't taught how to make the transition home. In the end, most campers end up returning to the same habits that caused the initial weight gain, therefore quickly regaining the weight lost at camp.
At Wellspring Family Camp, families work together to create a healthy home environment around food and activity. Parents and children work with a Wellspring Behavioral Coach (Masters- or Doctoral-level therapist) to help them establish healthy communication about food, set expectations and guidelines for the return home, and resolve any tensions that have developed around food and sedentary habits. Parents are relieved to have effective guidance about handling these difficult issues, and kids are able to take more responsibility for their own healthy choices without parents acting as the "food police."
Fat Camps Do Not Teach Sustainable Weight Loss
At fat camps, children attend for the summer to lose weight but aren't taught to understand the weight loss process in which they are participating. They take part in daily activities and eat the food provided for them without the overarching understanding of how each activity and food choice fits into a cohesive plan. The result is that campers return home from fat camp and are not able to continue independently with their weight loss.
At Wellspring Family Camp, campers and parents learn the simple and sustainable Wellspring Plan right from their first day at camp. Everyone is provided with the tools they need (pedometer, calorie guide, self-monitoring journal, and textbooks) right from the start so that their time at camp is simply practice for the lifestyle changes they will be making at home. And the Wellspring Plan is simple enough that even our youngest campers participate and understand their role.
Fat Camps Do Not Encourage Behavioral Change
At fat camps, campers change their eating and activity habits at camp without really understanding why they are doing so. They aren't taught to recognize the underlying beliefs, habits, and thoughts that led to the weight gain. The result is that campers return home without understanding the core behaviors that must change in order for the weight loss to be sustained.
At Wellspring Family Camp, parents and their children work with a Masters- or Doctoral-level therapist to figure out the patterns, habits, and beliefs that led to the initial weight gain. They also work together to determine concrete solutions to the issues that are likely to derail their success at home—whether that is work stress, overly busy schedules, fear of not succeeding at weight loss, or some other type of resistance. The result is that families leave camp with a solid plan for success, as well as Continuing Care through June 2012 to help them through any challenges.
If you are concerned about your family's health due to a weight issue, now is the time to take action. Unfortunately, left alone the issue is likely to get worse. Studies indicate that, without an effective intervention, 90% of overweight adolescents become obese adults. Wellspring Family Camp can help.
If you would like additional information about the difference between fat camps and Wellspring Family Camp, please call us at 866.364.0808. We'll be happy to talk to you about your family's particular situation.
