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Weight loss camp
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A fat camp, weight loss camp, or fat farm is a type of residential program where people who are overweight or obese go to attempt to lose weight through exercise and lifestyle changes.
Overview
[edit]One goal of weight loss camps is to help the guests lose weight.
Some programs not only focus on weight loss, but on changing behavior through a combination of training on self-regulatory behaviors and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), as well as maintaining weight loss after campers return home.[1] Some experts believe these are key elements of an effective program.[2][failed verification]
One study found that adolescents reported decreased body shape dissatisfaction and increased self-esteem immediately after losing weight at a weight loss camp.[3][non-primary source needed] These improvements were directly related to the amount of weight lost, with the greatest benefit to those adolescents who lost the most weight.[3]
In popular culture
[edit]Multiple films and television shows have featured or mentioned programs such as these, including:
Films
[edit]- Fat Camp: An MTV Docs Movie Presentation (2006), a documentary television film about five teens at a camp called Camp Pocono Trails (CPT), in the Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pennsylvania.[4][5]
- Heavyweights (1995), an American comedy film centered around a camp for kids that is taken over by a fitness guru.
- The Goonies (1985), While being interrogated by the film's antagonists, Chunk confesses he was kicked out of a fat camp for going on a feeding frenzy during lunch.
Television
[edit]- Multiple episodes of Friends mention that Monica Geller, who used to be overweight before the beginning of the show, went to fat camp in her youth.
- "Fat Camp" (South Park), season 4, episode 15 of the animated television series South Park, original airdate December 6, 2000: in the episode, Cartman is sent to lose weight at a fat camp where he discovers a different way to earn money.
- The Biggest Loser, a reality television format which started with the American TV series The Biggest Loser in 2004, which centers on overweight and obese participants competing against each other to lose the highest percentage of weight (or most weight) to become the "biggest loser".
- Huge is an American fictional TV series that aired in 2010, starring Nikki Blonsky as a teenager who is sent to a weight loss camp against her will. It was developed by Winnie Holzman and Savannah Dooley.
- Heavy is an American documentary series that aired on A&E. The series is filmed at the Hilton Head Health Wellness Resort and chronicles the weight loss efforts of people with severe obesity. It ran for one season, from January 17 to April 4, 2011.
- Killer Queen (Family Guy) Season 10, Episode 16 of the animated FOX sitcom Family Guy, Peter and Chris Griffin attend a weight loss camp, but when some other campers are found dead, the blame falls on Lois Griffin's brother, Patrick Pewterschmit, as he was imprisoned for the murder of obese people.
- One of the suspects in the first episode of Columbo season 3 ("Lovely but Lethal") runs a fat farm, which is presented in the episode as a kind of cult.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Ellin, Abby (June 28, 2005). "For Overweight Children, Are Fat Camps A Solution?". The New York Times.
- ^ Arehart-Treichel, Joan (August 3, 2007). "ACBT Teaches Obese People How to Think Thin". Psychiatric News.
- ^ a b Walker, LM; Gately, PJ; Bewick, BM; Hill, AJ (22 May 2003). "Children's weight-loss camps: psychological benefit or jeopardy?". International Journal of Obesity. 27 (6): 748–754. doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802290. PMID 12833121.
- ^ "MTV's Fat Camp: Winning Losers With a Lot to Gain". Washington Post. February 14, 2006.
- ^ "MTV cameras follow overweight kids at Camp Pocono Trails". Pocono Record.[permanent dead link]
Weight loss camp
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A weight loss camp is a residential program, typically lasting several weeks to months, in which participants—often overweight or obese children, adolescents, or adults—engage in supervised caloric restriction, intensive physical activity, nutritional education, and behavioral counseling to achieve body weight reduction in a controlled, immersive environment.[1][2] Originating in the United States during the mid-20th century, these camps provide medically monitored settings that enforce a calorie deficit and increased energy expenditure, yielding short-term outcomes such as 5-10% reductions in body mass index (BMI), improved cardiovascular fitness, and lowered blood pressure among youth participants.[3][1][4] Peer-reviewed evaluations confirm these programs' capacity for safe, rapid weight loss during immersion, with immersion treatments demonstrating up to 191% greater overweight reduction compared to outpatient alternatives in systematic analyses of youth interventions.[5] However, long-term efficacy is limited, as participants frequently regain weight after returning to habitual environments lacking the camp's structural controls, mirroring broader patterns in obesity management where sustained deficits prove difficult without ongoing behavioral reinforcement.[6] Controversies encompass psychological risks, including body image distress and stigmatization from punitive or shaming tactics in some facilities, alongside operational lapses such as medication mishandling and insufficient oversight, which have prompted regulatory scrutiny and closures in cases like certain U.S. youth camps.[5][7] Despite these issues, select programs prioritizing habit formation over mere restriction report better retention of fitness gains, underscoring the causal primacy of environmental consistency in addressing obesity's multifactorial drivers.[4]
These results stem primarily from peer-reviewed cohort analyses, though randomized trials are scarce, limiting causal attribution beyond the evident energy imbalance induced by camp protocols.
History
Origins in the Early 20th Century
The emergence of weight loss camps in the early 20th century aligned with the "reducing" craze of the 1920s in the United States, where calorie counting gained traction as a method for weight management, particularly among women responding to cultural shifts toward slimmer silhouettes in fashion and media.[8] This period marked increased public concern over obesity, attributed to urbanization, reduced physical labor, and dietary changes, prompting innovations in structured interventions beyond individual dieting.[8] A landmark example was Maine Chance Farm, established by cosmetics pioneer Elizabeth Arden (Florence Nightingale Graham) in Mount Vernon, Maine, which opened in 1934 as the first U.S. destination spa integrating beauty regimens with dedicated weight loss protocols.[9] Designed for affluent clients including celebrities like Lillian Gish and Ava Gardner, the 750-acre facility provided calorie-restricted meals, supervised exercise, massages, and salon treatments in a rural retreat setting, yielding an average participant weight loss of 6 pounds per week.[10] Arden, who acquired the property in 1929 and developed it post-1933, targeted urban socialites seeking to shed "winter pounds" through disciplined routines emphasizing rest, nutrition, and physical activity.[10] Parallel initiatives included Rose Dor Farm near New York, operational in the late 1930s, where women followed milk-centric diets—initially three days of juices followed by cultured milk and vegetables—combined with group exercises like stretching and Swedish-directed gym sessions.[11] These programs, often lasting 10 days or more, exemplified early residential models prioritizing empirical weight reduction via caloric restriction and movement, though long-term efficacy remained unproven and varied by individual adherence.[12] Primarily serving upper-class females, such camps underscored class-specific access to obesity management amid broader societal stigmatization of excess weight.[11]Post-WWII Expansion and Popularization
Following World War II, economic prosperity in the United States facilitated lifestyle shifts toward sedentary occupations, automobile reliance, and greater availability of calorie-dense processed foods, contributing to elevated obesity prevalence. Adult obesity rates climbed to about 13% by the early 1960s, up from lower levels in prior decades, as documented in national health surveys.[13][14] This trend heightened public and medical awareness of obesity as a treatable condition, spurring demand for structured interventions beyond outpatient dieting. Weight loss resorts and spas, colloquially known as "fat farms," expanded significantly starting in the 1950s, with dozens emerging by the 1960s in southern and western states to capitalize on year-round climates conducive to outdoor exercise.[15][16] These facilities typically enforced low-calorie regimens—often 800-1,200 daily calories—combined with mandatory physical activities like hiking, calisthenics, and group sports, promising 10-20 pounds of loss per week for adult participants isolated from home environments.[16] Their growth mirrored the burgeoning commercial diet industry, including amphetamine-based suppressants prevalent until regulatory curbs in the late 1960s. Pediatric weight loss camps followed suit in the mid-to-late 1960s, adapting summer camp models for obese children and teens with supervised nutrition and athletics to foster habits amid peer support. Camp Shane, established in 1968 in New York's Catskills, exemplified this development, enrolling hundreds annually in programs blending recreation—such as archery and swimming—with caloric restrictions yielding average losses of 20-30 pounds per session.[17][18] Media profiles, including a 1967 New York Times feature on camps like Stanley in Pennsylvania, popularized these outlets by portraying them as disciplined alternatives to unstructured weight gain, though experts noted frequent post-camp regain due to unaddressed behavioral factors.[18][19]Decline and Regulatory Scrutiny from the 2000s
In the 2000s, weight loss camps encountered mounting challenges as medical consensus increasingly framed obesity as a chronic metabolic disorder driven by factors beyond voluntary caloric imbalance, undermining the camps' foundational premise of rapid behavioral correction through restriction and exertion.[20] Empirical studies from this era documented short-term successes, such as a 2005 analysis of residential programs where participants lost an average of 6.0 kg and reduced BMI by 2.4 units over 29 days, but highlighted negligible long-term retention due to metabolic adaptations and regain upon resuming normal environments.[21] This evidence fueled skepticism among clinicians, who argued that camps perpetuated cycles of yo-yo dieting without addressing physiological drivers like hormonal dysregulation, contributing to a gradual erosion in enrollment and new program launches.[22] Regulatory pressures compounded operational difficulties, with federal and state authorities targeting unsubstantiated efficacy claims across the weight loss sector. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) intensified enforcement in the early 2000s, hosting workshops on deceptive advertising and pursuing actions against programs promising enduring results without rigorous proof, a standard that scrutinized camps' marketing of guaranteed poundage drops.[23] For instance, FTC settlements in 2005 addressed misleading representations in commercial diet services, indirectly pressuring camps reliant on similar hype.[24] At the state level, youth camp licensing bodies ramped up inspections for health risks, including dehydration from intense regimens and inadequate medical oversight, amid reports of camper distress; a 2008 Government Accountability Office report on residential treatment programs flagged broader vulnerabilities to neglect and abuse in confined youth settings, elevating compliance costs for weight loss operators.[25] By the late 2000s, these dynamics manifested in closures and reorientations, with prominent examples like Camp Shane accumulating violation histories for safety lapses—such as insufficient staffing and sanitation—that presaged its 2021 shutdown under investigation, though operations persisted amid ongoing complaints.[26] Psychological harm allegations, including induced shame and disordered eating from weigh-ins and privileges tied to losses, drew further ire, as former attendees reported enduring body image issues despite initial weight reductions.[27] Collectively, these factors reduced the model's viability, shifting resources toward outpatient medical interventions like pharmacotherapy precursors and bariatric options, which offered mechanistic targeting over environmental coercion.[20]Definition and Core Elements
Purpose and Objectives
Weight loss camps, often structured as residential programs, primarily aim to induce weight reduction in overweight and obese participants by enforcing a calorie-controlled diet, rigorous physical activity, and behavioral counseling in a supervised, distraction-free environment.[28] This immersive approach seeks to interrupt maladaptive eating and sedentary habits, fostering initial physiological changes such as fat loss and improved metabolic markers while instilling foundational knowledge of energy balance and portion control.[29] Programs differentiate from outpatient interventions by providing constant oversight, which proponents argue accelerates compliance and minimizes relapse during the initial phase.[28] Core objectives center on measurable short-term outcomes, including reductions in body weight and body mass index (BMI), typically targeting 5-10% loss over 4-8 week durations, alongside enhancements in cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle endurance.[1] For pediatric-focused camps, additional goals involve age-specific improvements like normalized growth trajectories and elevated physical self-efficacy, evaluated via standardized metrics such as the 1-mile run time or flexibility tests.[29] Adult-oriented programs extend objectives to metabolic health indicators, such as lowered blood pressure or cholesterol levels, through integrated medical monitoring.[28] Longer-term objectives emphasize skill acquisition for post-camp sustainability, including self-monitoring techniques, stress management strategies, and relapse prevention plans derived from cognitive-behavioral principles, with the intent of promoting adherence to caloric deficits and activity levels exceeding 150 minutes weekly.[28] Evidence from cohort evaluations indicates these aims prioritize behavioral reprogramming over mere caloric expenditure, though realization depends on participant engagement and program fidelity.[30]Typical Program Features
Residential weight loss camps provide immersive, structured programs that integrate physical activity, nutritional guidance, and behavioral interventions to facilitate short-term weight reduction and habit formation. These programs typically operate in a controlled environment with 24-hour supervision by medical staff, trainers, and counselors, emphasizing discipline and accountability to minimize distractions from daily life. Durations vary from one to eight weeks, with packed daily schedules that minimize idle time and promote routine adherence.[31][1] Exercise Regimens: Participants engage in multiple hours of supervised physical activity daily, tailored to age and fitness levels to build endurance and calorie expenditure without excessive risk. Activities often include aerobic exercises such as running, water aerobics, and yoga; strength training; and recreational options like group games, hiking, or obstacle courses to enhance enjoyment and compliance, particularly for youth. For example, programs may require a daily one-mile run or at least 30 minutes of non-competitive movement with adaptations like frequent rests and hydration monitoring. Medical oversight during activities ensures safety, with adjustments for comorbidities.[31][1][32] Nutritional Protocols: Meals consist of balanced, portion-controlled options prepared under dietitian supervision, adhering to guidelines that prioritize whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and reduced calorie or fat intake while avoiding punitive restrictions. Campers typically receive three meals and snacks daily, with involvement in food preparation to reinforce skills like portion awareness and healthy cooking. Educational components include lessons on dietary triggers, new food introductions, and customized post-program plans to support ongoing adherence. No caloric limits are always imposed, but supervision prevents overeating.[31][1][32] Behavioral and Educational Elements: Sessions focus on psychosocial aspects, using models like the Health Belief Model to address eating patterns, self-esteem, and barriers to change through group discussions, interactive workshops, and personal reflection. Topics cover nutrition theory, fitness benefits, and behavior modification strategies, such as identifying emotional triggers for overeating and fostering peer support. These aim to equip participants with tools for long-term maintenance, though efficacy depends on post-camp follow-up.[31][32][1] Supervision and Support: Multidisciplinary teams—including physicians, nurses, dietitians, and therapists—conduct regular assessments like blood work, weight tracking, and vital signs monitoring to mitigate health risks. Community elements, such as group living and shared activities, provide peer accountability, while exit strategies like follow-up meetings aid transition. Programs for children emphasize fun and non-competitive formats to avoid psychological harm.[31][32][1]Participant Demographics and Selection
Target Groups by Age and Condition
Weight loss camps predominantly target children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years who are classified as overweight or obese, with programs designed to address pediatric obesity through structured residential or day-camp formats. For instance, residential summer camps such as Camp Jump Start enroll obese adolescents aged 10 to 18, focusing on those with body mass index (BMI) percentiles at or above the 95th for age and sex.[1] Similarly, programs like Forever-Fit Summer Camp serve youth with an average age of 10.6 years, emphasizing participants from low-income or minority backgrounds disproportionately affected by excess weight gain.[4] These age groups are prioritized due to evidence that childhood obesity increases risks for long-term comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with camps aiming to intervene during formative developmental stages.[33] Programs for younger children, typically aged 7 to 12, often include those with overweight (BMI 85th-94th percentile) alongside obese peers, sometimes extending eligibility to individuals exhibiting related psychosocial challenges such as loneliness or family-related issues that exacerbate weight gain.[34] Adolescent-focused camps (ages 13-18) may segregate by gender or offer coed options, targeting higher-risk groups like racial/ethnic minorities or low-socioeconomic households where summer weight gain is more pronounced.[35] Adult participation is less common in traditional youth-oriented camps but occurs in specialized "fat camps" or boot camps accommodating young adults up to their 20s, particularly those with longstanding obesity unresponsive to outpatient interventions; however, empirical data on adult-specific residential programs remains sparser compared to pediatric cohorts.[36] By condition, eligibility centers on clinical obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile for youth) or severe overweight, excluding those with acute medical instabilities or eating disorders that could be exacerbated by caloric restriction.[21] Camps may also admit participants with comorbidities like prediabetes or hypertension, provided medical clearance is obtained, as these conditions correlate with accelerated weight-related health declines in youth.[37] Exclusion criteria often bar individuals under age 7 or over 18 in pediatric programs to tailor activities to developmental needs, while adult variants focus on those without contraindications to high-intensity exercise.[38] Overall, selection emphasizes measurable BMI elevations over subjective self-reports, with programs like those evaluated by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommending referral for children aged 2-18 meeting overweight/obesity thresholds.[39]Admission Criteria and Exclusions
Admission to weight loss camps, often structured as residential programs for children and adolescents, typically requires participants to meet specific age and body mass index (BMI) thresholds indicative of overweight or obesity. Programs such as Camp Strong4Life target children aged 8 to 12 years with a BMI greater than the 85th percentile for age and sex, emphasizing structured interventions for youth at risk of obesity-related complications. Similarly, Camp Jump Start accepts children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years identified by themselves or parents as overweight or obese, with eligibility confirmed via BMI assessment. For adult-oriented retreats, criteria are generally less stringent, focusing on self-motivated individuals seeking intensive lifestyle changes without mandatory BMI cutoffs, though many cater to those with BMI exceeding 25.[40][1] A prerequisite across most programs is medical clearance from a physician, including a recent physical examination, health history review, and verification of fitness for vigorous physical activity and caloric restriction. This screening ensures participants can safely engage in daily exercise routines, nutritional protocols, and group activities, often documented via standardized forms assessing cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and metabolic status. Programs aligned with CDC-recognized family healthy weight initiatives for children aged 2 to 18 further recommend referral based on overweight or obesity diagnosis, with physician approval to mitigate risks.[41][42][39] Exclusions are applied to protect participant safety, barring those with conditions contraindicating intense exercise, dietary changes, or communal living. Common exclusions include unstable cardiovascular disease, uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes, acute orthopedic injuries, or recent surgeries limiting mobility, as these pose risks during high-volume physical demands. Psychiatric instability, active eating disorders, or severe mental health conditions requiring specialized care also typically disqualify applicants, given the psychological stressors of structured programs. Pregnancy in adolescent females and contagious illnesses are absolute exclusions, per standard camp health protocols. Some programs, like those for youth with BMI at or above the 95th percentile, may further exclude based on comorbidities identified in pre-admission evaluations, ensuring only medically stable candidates proceed.[43][44][45]Operational Structure
Daily Schedules and Routines
Daily schedules in weight loss camps are highly structured to enforce discipline, maximize physical activity, and integrate nutritional and educational components, typically spanning 12-14 hours with limited unstructured time to minimize sedentary behavior. Programs emphasize early rising to capitalize on fasted-state fat burning and end with early bedtimes to ensure recovery, often requiring 6-8 hours of combined exercise and movement daily.[46][47] A common routine begins with wake-up between 6:45 AM and 7:00 AM, followed immediately by light exercise such as yoga, stretching, or an optional walk to initiate metabolism without caloric intake. Breakfast, consisting of nutrient-dense, portion-controlled meals like smoothies or high-protein options, occurs around 7:15-8:00 AM, after which participants engage in morning training sessions lasting 1-2.5 hours, including cardio circuits, group fitness, spinning, or hikes tailored to fitness levels.[47][46][48] Mid-morning includes a light snack and educational seminars on topics like emotional eating, nutrition basics, or long-term habit formation, typically from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, before lunch featuring balanced, low-calorie meals such as salads or soups. Afternoon blocks, from 1:00-4:00 PM, feature additional exercise like strength conditioning, pilates, pool sessions, or countryside walks, often incorporating workshops on mindset, body fat mechanics, or resilience training to address psychological barriers to weight loss.[47][48][49] Evenings wind down with dinner around 6:00 PM, emphasizing whole foods like lean proteins and vegetables, followed by relaxation, optional light activities, or group round-ups for reflection, with lights out by 9:00-10:00 PM to prioritize sleep hygiene. Sundays or rest days in some programs reduce intensity to group exercises or celebrations, allowing recovery while maintaining routine. Variations exist, with adult-focused camps like those at Live In Fitness imposing up to 6.5 hours of exercise across multiple sessions, while others balance intensity with mandatory wellness education and community building.[46][47][49]Nutritional and Exercise Protocols
Nutritional protocols in weight loss camps emphasize supervised, balanced meal plans overseen by registered dietitians to promote portion control and nutrient density while inducing a moderate caloric deficit. Programs typically provide three structured meals and two snacks daily, excluding unsupervised or off-site food intake to prevent deviations from the regimen. Meals incorporate fresh produce, lean proteins, whole grains, and vegetables, with education components teaching campers about caloric requirements, food labeling, and balanced macronutrient distribution. This approach aims to foster sustainable habits rather than extreme restriction, though specific caloric targets vary by age, sex, and baseline needs, often ranging from 1,600 to 2,200 calories per day for adolescents to achieve 3-5 pounds of weekly loss when paired with activity.[1][33][50] Exercise protocols feature intensive, multi-session daily routines totaling 4-6 hours of structured and unstructured physical activity, designed to elevate energy expenditure and build fitness skills through variety. Activities blend aerobic exercises like timed 1-mile runs or 2-mile walks, group sports such as soccer, basketball, tennis, and swimming (often 1-hour sessions), with strength and flexibility components including Zumba, kickball, and resistance stations. Programs prioritize skill-based, engaging formats over monotonous drills, with supervision ensuring progressive intensity tailored to participants' starting fitness levels. This high-volume approach, integrated with behavioral counseling, targets improvements in cardiovascular endurance and muscular strength alongside immediate caloric burn.[1][33][4]Staff and Supervision Models
Weight loss camps typically employ a multidisciplinary staff model to address the physical, nutritional, and behavioral aspects of obesity treatment, including registered dietitians for meal planning, certified exercise specialists for physical activity programming, behavioral counselors for psychological support, and medical personnel such as nurses or physicians for health monitoring and emergency response.[51][52] This approach aligns with guidelines for pediatric obesity interventions, emphasizing integrated care to promote sustainable lifestyle changes rather than isolated weight reduction.[53] Counseling and supervisory staff often include general counselors aged 18 or older with at least one year of college education, group leaders aged 21 or older with prior experience, and specialists like nutrition interns requiring relevant coursework.[54][55] American Camp Association (ACA) standards, applicable to many specialty camps including those focused on weight management, require that at least 80% of counseling staff be 18 years or older, with all staff at least two years older than the oldest campers, and mandate training in areas such as child protection, emergency procedures, and activity-specific skills.[56][57] Supervision models in residential weight loss camps emphasize close oversight due to participants' health vulnerabilities, often maintaining camper-to-staff ratios of 4:1 to 5:1 to enable individualized monitoring of diet adherence, exercise participation, and emotional well-being.[58][59][3] These ratios exceed general ACA recommendations of 1:8 for ages 9-14 and 1:10 for ages 15-17, reflecting adaptations for medical and behavioral needs in obesity-focused programs.[60] Twenty-four-hour supervision is standard, with staff rotations ensuring constant presence, and all personnel certified in CPR and first aid to handle potential complications like dehydration or injury during intensive activities.[61][62] Programs accredited by bodies like the ACA incorporate ongoing staff evaluation and specialized training in nutrition education, motivational interviewing, and stigma reduction to support camper compliance without coercive tactics.[63][64] In some models, supervision extends to post-camp follow-up via alumni coordinators, though efficacy depends on family involvement beyond the residential phase.[65]Scientific Evidence on Effectiveness
Short-Term Weight Loss Outcomes
Residential weight loss camps, particularly those targeting overweight and obese adolescents, consistently achieve short-term reductions in body weight and BMI through structured caloric restriction, increased physical activity, and behavioral interventions. A prospective cohort study of 185 children (mean age 13.9 years) at a 6-week program found participants lost an average of 6.0 kg after a mean stay of 29 days, with BMI decreasing by 2.4 units and BMI standard deviation scores by 0.28; fat mass specifically declined from 42.7 kg to 37.1 kg while fat-free mass remained stable.[21] These changes were statistically significant and associated with improvements in aerobic fitness and blood pressure, outperforming non-participating comparison groups who gained weight. Shorter programs yield proportionally smaller but still notable losses. In a study of 28 obese adolescents (mean age 13.3 years, mean BMI 30.3 kg/m²) attending a 2-week camp, body weight decreased by 2.7% and BMI by 0.8 units, with reductions in depressive symptoms correlating to greater BMI changes.[66] Similarly, a 4- or 8-week residential camp for 76 obese youth (ages 10-18) reported significant weight and BMI reductions (P < .0001), with larger effects in longer sessions and among boys compared to girls.[1] Evidence for adults remains limited and less robust, with few controlled studies on traditional residential formats; one 10-day multimodal outdoor camp incorporating time-restricted feeding showed initial weight reductions that aligned with caloric deficits but lacked long-term comparison to youth-focused programs.[67] Across pediatric studies, outcomes vary by program duration, participant adherence, and baseline obesity severity, but average losses of 1-2 kg per week reflect the intensive nature of supervised environments rather than novel mechanisms.[21][66]| Study | Sample Size and Age | Duration | Average Weight Loss | BMI Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| von Almen et al. (2005)[21] | 185 children, mean 13.9 years | Mean 29 days | 6.0 kg | -2.4 units |
| Christou et al. (2013)[66] | 28 adolescents, mean 13.3 years | 2 weeks | -2.7% body weight | -0.8 units |
| Brasher et al. (2010)[1] | 76 youth, 10-18 years | 4-8 weeks | Significant (P < .0001), exact avg. not specified | Significant (P < .0001), greater in 8-week |