cdavid

I am not sure the proper way to pharse it, but have you ever had to take your child to one of these? I wonder how well they work, esp. when your child is away from home (even for the first time) if it really works or it just makes the child worry more since their parents sent them away.

Helicopter

I have never sent a child to one because my child isn't old enough, however if it was needed then I would not hesitate. I myself am overweight and I know how hard it is to lose weight. I am working hard and it is slowly coming down.

These camps do work wonders. They teach the child to be more confident, to eat better and to exercise. I have seen TV shows where kids come back looking so much better-and yes they may be hard for the child to be away from home, but it really is needed in some cases to help the child. The alternative is a shortened life-so not worth it.

grandma2twins

I think for a teenager who wants to participate then these camps may work well. I don't believe that a parent should make the decision for a child. Just like unhealthy habits as adults, you can't force them to change. If a child is overweight, parents need to look into the reasons for it. Often, obesity in both children and adults can be linked to psychological factors that can get explored with a professional. Not saying that it's always psychological but often that end of things gets overlooked when dealing with children.