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Walker, L., Gately, P.J., Bewick, B.M. & Hill, A.J. (2003). Childrens weight-loss
camps: psychological benefit of jeopardy? International Journal of Obesity,
27, pp 748-754
This was an applied, quantitative, and confirmatory research. Its purpose
was to explore the effect of attending weight loss camps on obese children
and adolescents, by comparing measures of their body image, self-esteem,
and worries after and before joining the camps. The research question was:
what is the effect of obesity on body image, self-esteem, and worries of
children and adolescents? The researcher hypothesized that camp
attendance would lead to an improvement in psychological state, and that
this would be greater in those who lost the most weight.
The sample the researcher used was 95 persons divided into an experimental
group and a control group. The control group consisted of 57 campers, 33
females and 24 males, with a mean age of 13 years and 11 months, and
mean Body Mass Index (BMI) 0f 32.6 kg/m2. They attended the camp for a
mean duration of 28 days. In the comparison group there were 19 males
and 19 females, with a mean age of 14 years and 4 months, and a mean BMI
of 20.3 kg/m2. They were recruited on a voluntary basis from four local
secondary schools. There were children excluded from the analysis because
of incomplete data sets, or difficulties in understanding the questionnaires.
On the first day of the camp, initial values of the weight, BMI and aerobic
fitness of the campers were recorded. Psychological data was also collected
on the same day. This was done in small groups to ensure privacy.
Questionnaires were used to measure: self-esteem (scholastic competencesocial competence- athletic competence- physical appearance- behavioral
conduct- global self-esteem), worries, and body shape preferences. On the
last day of the camp, the same tests were taken for the second time. The
comparison group was assessed a week before and a week after the camp.
The measures of a pre-post design, with a 28 day interval, were compared to
themselves, and to the measures of the normal weight comparison group.
The results of the pre-tests showed that the psychological state of obese
children in the comparison group was poor in comparison with the control
group. There was a significant difference between the two groups in body
shape dissatisfaction, low self esteem, global self esteem, scholastic
competence, athletic competence, physical appearance, and behavioral
conduct, the experimental group being more on the negative side.
The post test measures indicated that there was a significant decrease in
weight, and a significant reduction in body shape dissatisfaction by the end of

the camp. There was also a significant increase in athletic competence,

physical appearance, and global self-esteem. Camp attendance had a
positive, significant effect on global self-esteem, and physical appearance.
The post tests showed a significant decrease in appearance worries, with no
significant group difference, but females had significantly higher worries than
males. In general, the study showed a significant relationship between
weight loss and better psychological state.
The limitations of this study were that the obese children were a self selected
group whose parents were rich enough to afford the camp fees, so the
sample was not randomized. Second, the effective part of the camp could
not be identified.
The researcher recommended that further research should be carried out on
the longevity of the interventions success, in terms of weight loss and
improved self-esteem.