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Category: Obesity

Summer Weight Loss Camp for Kids in the Northwest

Summer Weight Loss Camp for Kids in the Northwest
Kids don't always fully understand why they are heavier than other kids. Kids of all ages however, understand name calling, teasing and bullying can hurt.Many people, including some adults are not aware of the negative ramifications name calling and such can have on kids. Enduring this type of behavior from others often leads to emotional concerns such as low self-esteem, lack of confidence and anxiety just to name a few. It is important these kids understand they are not alone in their struggles. A summer weight loss camp for kids in the Northwest will not only encourage them to accept who they are but teach them about healthy living.

Summer Weight Loss Camp for Kids in the Northwest

Suffering from emotional problems such as those mentioned above, kids will develop methods of coping in any number of ways. Unfortunately, these methods may take the form of making poor choices such as over eating, in turn, worsening their weight problem. A summer weight loss camp that puts a positive twist on a traditional fat camp will have these kids understanding they have the strength and ability to make the necessary changes to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Not void of physical activity, kids will be engaged from the start of camp and well beyond the end learning new methods of dealing with the everyday challenges they may face. They will learn to take responsibility for themselves and the choices they make. They will learn how and why to make healthy food choices; preparing delicious, nutritious meals. Kids will learn quickly as they will be responsible for preparing meals at camp.

Daily counseling with certified therapists will ensure there are no underlying concerns with these kids. Through group sessions as well as peer to peer mentoring, strong support bonds will be formed throughout the summer.

For more information about our summer weight loss camp for kids in the Northwest, give us a call today at Rites of Passage NW Wilderness Therapy, (800)794-0980. You won't be believe the difference a summer can make.

Obesity Health and Wellness Camp for Kids in the USA

Obesity Health and Wellness Camp for Kids in the USA
There is no argument whatsoever that the rates of obesity are increasing in the United States. There may be a number of theories as to why this is happening but lack of physical activity and poor eating habits may top the list. The fast pace of today's society seems to limit the time some spend engaging in physical exercise or preparing healthy foods. Unfortunately, this busy lifestyle can inadvertently have negative effects on our young children as they too can suffer from excessive weight gain. If lifestyle changes are not made, the health and wellness of an individual can be at risk. Attending an obesity health and wellness camp for kids in the USA will not just educate these children, it will put them on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

Obesity Health and Wellness Camp for Kids in the USA

Showing kids that physical activity does not necessarily require a grueling regime of push-ups, sit-ups or jumping jacks; not that there is anything wrong with this. It can involve having fun on wilderness treks and adventures. Being challenged and empowered to use current skills and learn new methods to overcome obstacles as well as building self-esteem and confidence as personal goals are achieved.

Taking part in a complete holistic foods program, kids learn it isn't always about how much but what foods are eaten. Taking responsibility for cooking their own meals, kids will learn to properly prepare delicious, nutritious holistic meals; a skill that will not only benefit themselves for a life time but even their entire families.

For those kids whose poor eating habits or other behaviors may be the result of emotional concerns or other external influences, an intense but nurturing multilevel therapy approach will get to the root cause of any poor choices being made. This will ensure the whole person is looked after and not just the symptoms of any other problems.

For more information regarding the benefits of an obesity health and wellness camp for kids in the USA, give us a call today at Rites of Passage NW Wilderness Therapy (800)794-0980. The right path to a healthier lifestyle.

Weight Loss Treatment Program: Obesity and Overall Health

Obesity: Dangerous to More Than Just Your Physical Health

Medical and healthcare professionals now agree that mental illness and obesity are closely related. The mental and emotional side effects that follow from obesity are just as detrimental as the long-term health repercussions. Treatment must focus on the underlying mental issues that cause, and stem from, obesity, rather than solely on only weight loss. An effective weight loss treatment program such as wilderness therapy which encompasses both body and mind is typically the best approach to consider.

Suffering from obesity causes an individual to be more susceptible to developing related mental health problems because many of the underlying factors are the same. Those who suffer from obesity have an increased 30% risk of having a mental illness. Mental illness increases the risk of obesity by two to three times. More dangerously, a person diagnosed with a serious mental illness has an increased risk of almost 40% of dying from an obesity related issue, like diabetes or coronary heart disease.

The mental health outcomes related to obesity can be more dangerous than the long-term medical problems that arise.

Being overweight comes with a range of emotional issues that bring about mental illness. Specifically, obesity can lead to depression, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, anxiety, and many other problems.

The emotional side effects of obesity include:

  • Low self esteem
  • Lack of motivation
  • Lack of desire to be physically active
  • Feelings of isolation
  • Impulses to cause self harm

The connection between mental illness and obesity can be a vicious cycle.

Obesity and mental illness relate to each another in the way that they both contribute to, and result from, the other. Depression is linked to weight gain, which can lower self-esteem, in turn increasing feelings of depression and continuing the cycle. Just as obesity can worsen the symptoms associated with depression, treating obesity is a preventative measure against depression. The same is true in the other direction. The side effects of depression are contributors to obesity, but treating depression is a preventative measure against obesity. Thus, any treatment of obesity that focuses solely on weight loss and does not address this connection will not have long-term success.

A successful treatment program must look at treating the underlying emotional issues associated with obesity.

The mind and body work in tandem, and the healthy management of one must include the other. Wilderness therapy is a multi-dimensional approach to treatment that addresses the underlying obesity issues through a combination of physical activity, holistic nutrition and therapy. The all-at-once approach to treating physical and mental issues at the same time is significantly more successful because the positive changes made to the mind impact the body, and visa versa.

The elements of wilderness therapy work together to produce positive results in a peer supported environment. In wilderness therapy, weight loss and physical health improvements are the outcomes of improved mental health. Improved mental health is also an outcome of the outdoor physical activity that comes with an adventure-based program. The wilderness setting lends itself to a multi-dimensional therapeutic approach because of the kind of environment that it is. It offers comprehensive and effective solutions to treating obesity and mental health by recognizing that the two are closely related, and by educating participants on ways to manage both issues together moving forward.

Wilderness therapy is an effective weight loss treatment program and encompasses treatment for both the body and the mind. Call Rites of Passage Wilderness at (800)794-0980 to learn more.