Child Obesity and Weight Loss Camps
Weight Loss Study Introduction
Child obesity is rapidly increasing with current estimates highlighting
that one in three children are overweight and one in ten children are
obese. US data shows that overweight children have significantly greater
levels of: fasting insulin, fasting triglycerides, LDL, total cholesterol
and hypertension compared to normal weight children (Freedman 1999). Given
that 80 percent of obese children will become obese adults it is prudent
to establish appropriate and successful intervention studies to tackle
the problem of obesity in the pediatric population. In addition, significant
psychological morbidity is also an outcome of pediatric obesity. At this
time there is no program of health care currently available for this group.
Of greater concern is the lack of successful outcomes of previous research
treatment programs. The need for appropriate interventions is well acknowledged,
however, most interventions are inappropriately designed for children
as they are based on adult interventions and the understanding of child
obesity is fraught with problems of definition and inappropriate treatments.
Weight Loss Study Methods
The Carnegie International Camp program was set up with three aims. Firstly,
to develop a child centred program for the treatment of pediatric obesity
using an evaluative multi-disciplinary approach. Secondly to investigate
the accuracy of methods of assessment used for evaluating the outcome
of intervention programs for overweight and obese children (i.e. body
composition & activity monitoring). Finally, to develop an understanding
of the factors that lead to both successful and unsuccessful weight management
in this population. This will allow a model of good practice to be developed
so the camp approach can be translated into a range of more appropriate
community based initiatives, which in turn can address pediatric obesity
in a more effective way. These aims have been pursued through a residential
camp which provides control of the environment, whilst maintaining some
degree of ecological validity. The camp uses skill-based fun-type physical
activity, moderate calorific restriction and education. All children on
the camp were assessed for body mass, stature, percent body fat, aerobic
fitness, exercise motivation and self esteem pre and post the six-week
intervention. Our qualitative research program seeks to identify and describe
the factors that affect behaviour change within the family environment
following the camp program. During the six-week camp program energy intake
is based on an approximation of BMR (1300-3300kcal.day-1), children participate
in six 1-hour physical activity sessions per day and four weekly educational
sessions. The physical activity sessions promote choice of fun type skill
based exercise in a range of activities.
Weight Loss Study Results
During the six-week program highly significant changes are noted in all
health indicators measured. In addition, the qualitative research investigating
the views of the participants and their families has been highly effective
in informing our practice during each of the subsequent summer camp programs.
Weight Loss Study Conclusion
The camp program is highly effective in reducing risk factors for children's
health with significant improvements in body mass, adiposity, aerobic
fitness, and psychometric variables. Follow-up studies have shown successful
management of percent body fat in approximately 71 percent of children
who return to the camp each year. Research and understanding of the process
the children and their families go through has been vital in continuing
to improve the outcomes of the camp intervention, and the third aim of
our work which is to help in the development of further community based
initiatives.
Source: Gately P J & Cooke C B, School
of Leisure & Sport, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, LS6 3QS,
UK. (2002)
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