Camp ENERGY - About
We all know how important it is to eat right and exercise. Research shows that good nutrition and physical activity contribute to improved academic performance, higher school attendance rates, improved behavior - and ultimately, lifelong health and well-being. Yet, obesity is sweeping across our nation at epidemic rates.
In particular, adolescent obesity is a significant problem that is associated with numerous health issues and can lead to premature death in adulthood. Adolescents living in a rural environment may be at particular risk for becoming overweight or obese. Rural adolescents report higher fat and calorie intakes, lower levels of physical activity, and are more likely to be uninsured and lack the proper preventive services to modify their condition.
Preventing obesity through healthy changes requires a program to teach realistic, life-long habits. Focusing on the fundamentals of exercise, nutrition, emotions, recording and goals, we propose Camp ENERGY for obese adolescents and their families.
This program will deliver a behavior modification intervention for obese adolescents in a nurturing and fun camp setting at Camp Victory, Millville PA. Thirty adolescents and a guardian will attend two weekend retreats approximately 4-months apart. In the time between retreats, they will receive 12 lifestyle modification lessons based on the Healthy Changes Program for TEENS, an evidence-based family-based lifestyle modification intervention developed by the PA Department of Health's Adolescent Weight Management Study performed in collaboration by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Geisinger's Center for Health Research.
In the proposal we review current problems facing obese adolescents and their future health if their weight is not addressed. We consider the causes of obesity and propose how to modify this preventable and treatable illness with specific aims and measurable outcomes. We outline the recruiting process, design and implementation, a sample day, and the cost to run this unique camp experience.
Unlike traditional special needs or weight loss camps, this is not just an experience, but treatment through education in the camp setting. Camp Energy has a long-term aim of providing a programmatic and sustainable solution to the problem of obesity in our youth.
