It is no small feat to lose 50, 100, 150 pounds or more without resorting to weight loss surgery, diet pills, or other costly medical interventions. Wellspring camps and academies have helped thousands of families post some of the best results ever recorded for weight loss programs for children, adolescents, or adults. The licensed therapists at Wellspring, called behavioral coaches, are passionate about their work, gleaming with pride as they discuss just a few of the success stories they’ve witnessed during their time with Wellspring.

Extraordinary Weight Losses

Christopher D’Andrea, M.A., who works as a behavioral coach at Wellspring Academy in California, reflects on a number of students who tipped the scales at 500 pounds when they entered the program and left many months later 200-plus pounds lighter. “As a therapist who works closely with these kids on a daily basis, there’s nothing like watching them go from unmotivated, resistant teens to healthy, self-assured long-term weight maintainers,” he beams. “We’re like proud parents.”

Wellspring students have constant opportunities to prove themselves. As they make progress monitoring their diet and exercise levels, they are encouraged to test their new skills on off-campus trips to restaurants, local parks, or to visit their families at home.

“I’m impressed on a daily basis,” states Rachel Thomas, M.A., another behavioral coach at Wellspring Academy in California. “While some students take advantage of off-campus trips to binge on ‘off-program’ foods, many kids actually lose more weight on these trips, even without our guidance and supervision. That’s when I know they really get it.”

A Mind-Body Transformation

Wellspring camps and academies aren’t just about losing weight. Although students lose an average of 4.25 pounds per week and keep the weight off long-term, Wellspring’s primary goal is to teach children and their families how to live a healthy lifestyle.

When students first arrive at Wellspring, some struggle with homesickness, rebellion, skipping class, and acting out. “At first, they don’t want to be here, and they don’t want to do the hard work,” notes behavioral coach Cristina Valle, M.A. “But at some point, usually within the first couple weeks, it’s like the light suddenly clicks on. Scruffy kids who don’t seem to care about themselves or anyone else start cutting their hair, dressing differently, and walking with their heads held high. Even the troublemakers can make a complete turnaround and start doing good things for themselves and others. It’s great to see.”

“We ask a lot of these kids,” adds Thomas. “Losing weight is a slow, arduous process that requires great determination and commitment at a time when most teenagers just want to hang out with their friends and play video games.”

Aki Morita, Ph.D., recalls a particularly difficult experience with a student who was struggling behaviorally and acting out. “It had gotten to the point where we talked to the parents about sending the child home. They convinced me to take on her case, and I worked closely with her for eight weeks to get her committed to the program, to notice how good she felt after losing weight and staying active, and to interact positively with other students in the Wellspring community.”

Morita’s hard work paid off. “I recently received a heart-warming letter from the student’s parents with a photograph of a girl I hardly recognized,” she says. “She had continued to lose weight at home over the year and looked so happy. It was such a beautiful transformation.”

Beating the Odds

Wellspring students come in all shapes and sizes, from all backgrounds and locations, and with any number of behavioral, emotional, or physiological issues. Dr. Morita shares another story of a young lady she treated at Wellspring’s summer weight loss camp in Hawaii who had extensive medical problems, including a heart defect and reversed organs.

“This student struggled to even walk in a straight line, and because of her differences was socially isolated from the rest of the students,” Morita recollects. “But she never made any excuses for her medical issues. She stuck to the program, improved her social skills, and lost a lot of weight. She’ll be vacationing in Hawaii this year, and has agreed to come speak to our current campers as a role model for beating the odds. What an inspiration.”

Wellspring is a life-changing experience for many teens struggling with overweight or obesity. Whether students need a short-term intervention like a summer camp to kick-start their weight loss program, or a longer term boarding school to achieve greater behavioral change, Wellspring has a program that can rebuild each child’s self-esteem, coping skills, and healthy habits. With the passion and guidance of Wellspring’s master’s and doctoral-level clinicians, personal trainers, and nutritionists, it is possible to achieve full mind-body transformations that improve children’s lives long after camp or school ends.