Tampa, Fla. (PRWEB) - May 29, 2012 - To counter the growing epidemic of overweight children and teens, BalanceDiet™ Company now offers Camp BalanceDiet™, a childhood and teen weight loss and healthy lifestyle program. The American Heart Association reports that approximately one-third of American children and teens are overweight or obese – nearly triple the rate in 1963 – and warns that these youths have a 70% to 80% chance of remaining overweight their entire lives.(1)
Camp BalanceDiet is focused on helping children, preteens, and teenagers develop healthy nutritional choices and lifestyle habits, while avoiding the potential consequences associated with excess weight. According to the American Heart Association, the obesity epidemic has resulted in children and teens experiencing health issues that were previously considered adult concerns – such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and elevated blood cholesterol levels – as well as adverse social and psychological effects, including low self-esteem, negative body image, and depression.(2)
“The childhood and teen obesity problem is quickly becoming a crisis,” asserted Pam Powderly, RD, LD/N, Corporate Dietician for BalanceDiet. “Between a lack of physical activity and poor nutritional choices, including processed items and fast food, it’s no wonder more kids are experiencing weight issues today than ever before. Many who try to deal with the issue on their own often resort to ‘fad diets’ or skipping meals, which means they are not getting the proper nutrition they need for growth and development. That’s why BalanceDiet created Camp BalanceDiet, to help children and teens lose weight and achieve an optimal healthy lifestyle in a professionally supervised setting.”
Powderly notes that the Camp BalanceDiet program is founded upon three success factors: healthy nutrition, physical activity, and a positive mindset. Children and teens are given a “traffic-light” food selection roadmap to follow, which helps them make the right nutritional choices. The color-coded guide encourages kids to enjoy an unlimited amount of “green” foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, while limiting their intake of “yellow” foods, such as proteins, starches, dairy, and healthy fats. Fast food, desserts, and other items in the “red” category are restricted to three servings per week. BalanceDiet also offers Metabolic Nutritional Supplements (MNS) – which are available as bars, soups, shakes, puddings, and drinks – to help curb hunger. Participants are advised to keep a food journal, which helps them and their coaches track their progress.
While many kids regard exercise as a chore, and therefore tend to avoid it, Powderly says there are a number of easy ways children and teens can incorporate physical activity into their daily routine: “Biking, swimming, playing a sport, or dancing to music from a favorite band are all great ways to burn calories. Other activities like walking the dog, climbing stairs, doing yard work, or helping with household chores also add up, and count toward the recommended minimum half hour of daily physical activity.”
The Camp BalanceDiet coaches help clients of all ages adopt a positive mindset to help them achieve success by providing encouragement, advice, and support. They will develop a customized nutrition and physical activity plan designed to help children and teens attain their optimal weight and fitness level.
“At Camp BalanceDiet, we provide the tools and expertise children and teens need to achieve their weight loss and fitness goals. By teaching kids about proper nutrition and recommending a variety of fun, cool activities, we help them establish healthy patterns and create a foundation that will serve them well throughout their lives,” said Powderly. “Our highly trained coaches deliver one-on-one counseling to help clients make the right choices and overcome challenges, and we have registered dieticians on staff to assist with menu planning. BalanceDiet also offers an online tracking system that makes it simple to monitor calories and nutrients, and determine what additional vitamins and minerals may be required to meet the recommended daily requirements. Fad diets and fasting deprive the body of essential nutrients; that’s why we are committed to educating our clients and helping them lose weight the healthy way.”
Camp BalanceDiet is open to children and teens ages 9-18 years old, and includes a customized nutrition and healthy lifestyle plan as well as a weekly coaching session, which will take place at a local BalanceDiet Centeror via phone through the BalanceDiet At Homeprogram. Parents who enroll in their own 4- or 12-week BalanceDiet program may register their child or teen for Camp BalanceDiet program at no cost. Parents who are not enrolled in their own program will be required to pay a small fee to register their child.
Free Camp BalanceDiet nutrition awareness pamphlets are available upon request at any BalanceDiet location. Camp BalanceDiet will also host a series of four nutrition and balanced lifestyle educational seminars throughout the summer. These events are free and open to the public. To find out more and to register for any of the free seminars, call 1-800-WEIGHT-LOSS.
For more details on BalanceDiet – including locations, services, products, and BalanceDiet franchise opportunities – visit http://www.GoBalanceDiet.com.
BalanceDiet™ is part of the elements™ family of healthy lifestyle brands, including award-winning fitness, weight-loss, media, and product companies. Founded by wellness visionary Christopher Palumbo, BalanceDiet holds a unique place in the women’s diet and fitness market with exclusive genetic-testing technology, patents on proprietary weight-loss products and supplements, a stylish, upscale wellness experience, and an array of online tools and services. Before launching elements and BalanceDiet, Palumbo earned recognition for his work with World Gym™, where he created a concept store that that now serves as the model for the company’s fitness centers worldwide. Today, BalanceDiet is a popular and fast-growing wellness brand with more than 30 locations throughout the United States in addition to the BalanceDiet At Home service offered direct to consumers. The company is expanding internationally and expects to have 40 ground-based operations by year-end, with additional franchise opportunities available. For more information on BalanceDiet, please visit http://www.GoBalanceDiet.com.
1, 2 American Heart Association. Understanding Childhood Obesity: 2011 Statistical Sourcebook. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@fc/documents/downloadable/ucm_428180.pdf
Karla Jo Helms
Joto PR
www.jotopr.com
888-202-4614
BalanceDiet™ is part of the elements™ family of healthy lifestyle brands, including award-winning fitness, weight-loss, media and product companies.