TAKE A BREAK: Battling Childhood Obesity
Camp helps tighten belts, shrink waists
This summer, something special happened at Union College in Schenectady.
From the basketball court, to the gym, to the classroom.
Dozens of young women came together to do one thing.
Beat their obesity.
They knew to win this battle, they'd have to lose.
What did they lose?
"I've lost 21.4 lbs."
"I've lost almost 30 lbs."
"34."
"I've lost 43 lbs."
These are some of the results from the first 'Wellspring Camp' to set up shop in the Capital Region.
8 weeks designed to transform young lives.
"It was definitely a struggle but, I mean, I've kept off all my weight since I've left."
22 year old Jessica Carney of Saratoga Springs attended a Wellspring Camp in 2007 and lost 40 pounds. It's part of the reason she's back as a counselor.
She says from day one they keep a grueling schedule.
"From 7 in the morning till 10:30 at night."
The girls exercise all day, playing sports, working out in the gym, going for a hike.
They take classes on how to prepare healthy foods.
And even mealtime is a lesson in eating right.
It all comes as a shock to the system for these girls, that many say they needed.
"It's the worst thing in the word to be an overweight teenager."
14 year old Kayleigh Barrucci, from Burlington, Massachusetts, was teased about her weight when she couldn't keep up with the other kids in gym class.
"For that to happen to me at such a young age was horrible. It just stressed me out so much."
For Natalie Kaplan, 15 years old from Rockland County, NY, it was a similar kind of stress when she and her friends went shopping for prom dresses and she couldn't find one.
"It was upsetting and I tried to pretend like I didn't care. I went with them shopping and helped them pick out their dresses, but I had to go separately to somewhere else."
But feeling ostracized is not something that happens here. The girls say for once they realize they're not alone.
When her 8 weeks were up, it was time for a much slimmer Natalie to see her mom again.
"She looks amazing," Mom said. "She's always been a great beauty but she's especially beautiful now. Because I know she's a lot happier.
The next big moment for many of these girls will come in a few weeks.
When they go back to school.
"High school is going to be a big change for me," says Kayleigh. "Just seeing all the kids faces when I walk in, that will be the best time in my life."
For more information on Wellspring, visit their website:
