Camp Teaches Kids to Lose Weight

W E S T  S T O C K B R I D G E, Mass., July 25 -- Camp Kingsmont has horseback riding, friendships, log cabins and camp fires, but s'mores are not on the menu: The average 10-year-old camper weighs more than 100 pounds and is trying to lose weight.

American children are growing more obese, but teaching proper nutrition, exercise and eating habits isn't easy.

Camp Kingsmont, tucked into western Massachussetts' Berkshires mountains, holds weekly classes in nutrition, eating right and fitness. Counselors tackle not just summer weight loss , but self-esteem, and good lifetime eating habits. One goal: helping kids keep weight off once they get home.

And to that end, the children sound like many adults who have struggled to shed unwanted pounds.

"I want to weigh 100 pounds. At least that's my goal," said Syd Meadow, a 10-year-old camper from Chicago.

"Last summer I lost between 40 and 50 pounds, and I put some of it back on, and my goal this summer is to lose all over again and to just really try to keep it off for all the school year," said Liam Bartholomay, 13, from Connecticut.

Beginning this year, there is also a mandatory program for parents to teach them how to support their children's efforts, since so many children tend to backslide and gain weight after camp is over.

Not Fat Camp

Despite its nutrition and fitness emphasis, camp owner Keith Zucker insists that Kingsmont is not a "fat camp."

"Candy is not part of the program here, but if a child comes up to me and says that they really want a candy bar, I'm not going to say no to them," Zucker said. "I will actually get them a candy bar."

And if they ask for French fries or chicken nuggets, he won't deny them. But everything in moderation, and, and nothing deep fried.

"They are healthy if they're served in portions, and when they are served baked rather than fried," he said.

Children at Kingsmont do not have to get on the scales upon arrival, nor are they pressured to be visibly slimmer when they leave. In short, they're expected to lighten up about their weights, even though they are learning good eating habits.