Camp Golden Treasures: a multidisciplinary weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle camp for adolescent girls.

Camp Golden Treasures, (CGT) the first non-profit weight loss camp for overweight adolescent girls in the nation, was held for six weeks from June 24 to August 3, 2007 at the East Carolina University campus in Greenville, NC. The primary goal was to support campers to lose weight, raise self esteem, and to learn the tools necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle while reducing risks for developing chronic disease or mitigating the effects of existing obesity-related conditions (sleep apnea, insulin resistance, hypertension, lower extremity dysfunction, etc.). While at CGT, campers learned about the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition through workshops, discussion groups and hands-on activities. Additionally campers were taught the necessary tools and strategies needed to make concrete, positive lifestyle changes so they can achieve a healthy weight. Due to the nature of a chronic disease such as obesity, multidisciplinary collaborators including physical therapy, nutrition, health education, management, family therapy, risk management, fundraising, public relations, medical, nursing, and physician coverage were involved in designing, planning, and implementing CGT.

Living with a machine: the experience of the child who is ventilator dependent.

While there are reports about depression in mothers caring for ventilator-dependent children in the home, little is known about the children's own perspective of living with a machine. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain the first-person perspective of 11 children, ranging in age from 7 to 12 years, who were ventilator-dependent for a minimum of eight hours each day. The children's experience was contextualized by Others, both human caregiver-others and the mechanical-other. Because of the constant presence of these Others, the child is never alone. Three interrelated themes emerged against this contextual ground: "Can/Can't," "Normal/Different," and "I'm Still a Person!" These children exist as an outcome of extraordinary success in health care technology. Their needs, and those of their caregivers, challenge traditional nursing thought. Mental health nurses should be an ongoing part of the care team for these children and their families.

For comparison: experience with a children's obesity camp.

BACKGROUND: The alarming rise in childhood obesity has resulted in a number of bariatric surgical initiatives. To interpret the outcomes, a comparison with a nonoperative approach is prudent. METHODS: In 2003, 2004, and 2005, we measured the outcomes produced by an isolated summer camp in North Carolina for 74, 99, and 89 obese children and adolescents with a mean age of 12.7 +/- 2.3, 13.0 +/- 1.9, and 13.2 +/- 1.8 years and initial body mass index (BMI) of 33.1 +/- 5.7, 33.4 +/- 6.4, and 32.9 +/- 7.0 kg/m2, respectively. The camp featured a 1700/d caloric diet, daily aerobic and resistance weight training exercise, nutrition classes, and weekly sessions with a psychologist. The changes in weight, BMI, body shape measurements, and fitness level were assessed. The average length of stay was 4.3, 4.2, and 4.4 weeks, respectively, in 2003, 2004, and 2005. RESULTS: The BMI, body shape, and weight change measures significantly improved during each of the summers. The campers lost 1.6, 2.0, and 1.8 kg/wk during each of the 3 years. Their waist measurements decreased by 9.1 +/- 5.12 cm, 9.9 +/- 5.6 cm, and 8.1 +/- 5.8 cm. Significant improvements occurred in the timed sprints, .5-mile (0.8-km) run, and vertical jump. Of those campers staying for two summers, 4.4% continued to reduce their BMI despite growth, 56.5% maintained their BMI at less than the initial baseline measurement, and 39.1% increased their BMI to greater than the baseline. The co-morbidities also improved. One camper, aged 15 years, weighing 211 kg, progressed from being able to walk 3 steps to managing the 100-yard (91-m) dash in 42 seconds after losing 35 kg in 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: Diets, exercise, and behavioral modification are useful approaches in severely obese children that can, in some, produce significant albeit expensive long-term results. Recidivism is a problem. Surgical outcomes must compare favorably with these outcomes.