Fighting Child Obesity

Fitness and nutrition expert, Tracey Redford of Curves International says, “The inactivity among young people can not be blamed solely on the evolution of Internet technology and television in itself. Child obesity has lead to a number of other health related issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease from the combination of improper nutrition and lack of exercise.”

Redford went on to say, “We live in a complex society where children of all ages have to contend with social issues such as depression, violence and divorce all having a downward spiraling affect both physically and emotionally. The psychological impact this has on our youth’s triggers an imbalance in eating habits and leads to a lack of motivation creating a domino effect.”

A summer camp experience with weight loss benefits

Last year in Canada alone the government spent over $2 billion on medical procedures surrounding obesity. No matter how many times we read about or see it on the news, children still do not understand the connection between eating, exercise and a healthy body. Rather than pointing fingers and placing blame, we need more resources and programs that can be offered such as summer camp programs specializing in weight loss. These camps are sometimes referred to as “fat camps” for young children and teens to guide them and educate them on making good healthy choices.

Children and parents shouldn’t be turned off by the words, “fat camp” which simply means a place where children of all ages can get fit, learn about nutritional balance and have fun doing so. Getting to participate in sports, crafts, and making make new friends while achieving weight loss in a nurturing environment provides a positive alternative for kids, and can pave the way to combat obesity.

The ultimate goal is sustainable healthy weight loss

When children feel they have no options, they continue on the same path of poor eating habits leading to a state of helplessness. Sending a child to a gym where they feel isolated and eventually lose motivation is not the solution either. Redford explains, “We need far better choices if we want our youth’s to get on track and stay on track. Weight loss camps for pre-teens and teenagers are a viable solution.”

What exactly is a weight loss camp? It’s about building a better self-image and self esteem while promoting health and wellness with individualized programs geared to weight loss that yields long term results. This is the foundation of the whole weight loss summer camp experience. A nutritionist designs an appropriate menu enabling campers to lose the weight and provide the necessary tools to keep the weight off upon returning home from camp. Understanding that the parent’s role is crucial in encouraging proper weight control for their children, the camps provide access to a network of nutritionist across the country.

Written on behalf of www.campshane.com, the original, longest running weight loss camp in the world located in the New York Catskill Mountains.

Weight Loss Diary 11

From March 11 thru 17

Back to reality this week with the shock news that my weight did not go down enough to report; probably no more than a few ounces (around 50 grams). Hence I’m sad to report that my weight still stands at 188 pounds (93 kilos). I guess I became a little too complacent after the better than expected results of the previous few weeks. This raises the big question of who, or what, is to blame?

As I live by the rule that I am responsible for all that goes wrong, as well as all that goes right, in my life then it stands to reason that I am to blame. Because I am to blame for a poor week then I know that it is within my power to turn that around in the coming week. That’s the great thing about accepting responsibility – you can always turn things around. People that avoid responsibility rarely turn things around.

So what happened to the positive momentum? Without using this as an excuse I have suffered a slight cold for the past week and have not been exercising at the rate I have become used to. Exercise has been a major part of my calorie burn-off routine. This has been offset slightly by the fact that whilst feeling unwell I haven’t eaten as much either. Probably this explains why my weight has remained the same rather than increasing; my calorie intake has been lower and I guess I reached the perfect balance of weight neutrality this week. That’s fine when my weight is where I want it to be but right now I still need to lose 8 pounds (3.9 kilos) to reach my target weight.

In this coming week I will not attempt to lose more than my target 1 pound (450 grams) because when you start playing catch up it throws the entire routine and places you under greater pressure. Psychologically it is better to accept that I did not reach my target last week and move on.

This week nothing will change, my target is one pound, my exercise sessions will still be three per week and I will still strive to put more aerobic action into my normal day.

This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006.