Wellspring camps

Wellspring opened their first two summer camps in June 2004 under the corporate name Healthy Living Academies.[1] Camp Wellspring, located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, accepted women ages 16 – 23. Wellspring Adventure Camp, in the mountains of North Carolina, admitted boys and girls ages 10–17 years old. Ryan Craig, a former member of the Aspen Education Board of Directors was appointed president of Healthy Living Academies.[1]

Healthy Living Academies' clinical program was headed up by Daniel S. Kirschenbaum, Ph.D., chosen because of his experience in developing successful weight loss programs for hospitals across the country. He was a past president of the Division of Exercise and Sport Psychology of the American Psychological Association and has authored over 100 scientific articles and eight books, including Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity and The 9 Truths About Weight Loss.

One of the more high-profile cases for Wellspring was Georgia Davis, who gained more than 500 pounds after leaving Wellspring.[2][3][4][5]

An older study from 2005 which includes a small selection of campers and only self-reported data, found that 70 percent of Wellspring campers had maintained the weight or continued to lose in the six to nine months after camp ended; the weight loss afterward averaged 7.4 pounds. Research conducted by Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, Wellspring's former Clinical Director and Director of Chicago's Center for Behavioral Medicine & Sport Psychology, tracked Wellspring's long-term outcomes as compared to other summer weight loss programs.[6] According to Dr. Kirschenbaum's research, campers consistently demonstrate average weight loss of 4 lbs. per week, and 30 lbs total in 8 weeks. In 6-12 month follow-up studies, the average camper goes on to lose more weight– an additional 5-8 lbs., on average.

Wellspring's long term outcomes and approach had come into question in the medical community. Many physicians and dietitians, including vocal critic Robert Ludwig, criticize their low to zero fat approach, and question how successful Wellspring was in creating long term weight loss results. The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that children and adolescents must have a minimum of 20 grams of fat per day, but not to exceed 30 grams of fat, in order to maintain healthy brain growth. Wellspring teaches its campers and family that this is not necessary.[7] Additionally, Dr. Ludwig has said that he was particularly worried about the effect on vulnerable teenagers who regain weight after their families have sacrificed so much financially to send them to Wellspring. "The sense of failure that can set in afterward could inflict long-term damage, "he said. Pediatric endocrinologist David Ludwig is the director of the obesity program at Children's Hospital in Boston[7]

Wellspring differentiated itself from traditional fat camps, where the focus had historically been on short-term weight loss rather than long-term lifestyle modification. The New York Times reports that more than half of all campers who attended traditional weight loss camps were repeat customers, indicating that most of these campers regain substantial amounts of weight within the first year.[8] Wellspring's research indicated that over 70% of their campers maintained weight loss from camp, or continued losing weight. Typically, the only doctors that are on staff at every Wellspring camp are clinical psychologists that are personally groomed by Dr. Kirschenbaum.[9]

Another Wellspring success story Jahcobie Cosom is now looking at gastric bypass after gaining weight post Wellspring. "Jahcobie Cosom tried the usual diet plans. He lost weight -- for a time -- at a school focused on weight loss. But now, he weighs more than 500 pounds. His next planned stop is gastric bypass surgery." Source: The Washington Post[10]

Wellspring Camps were based on the Wellspring Plan, a fitness and weight loss plan designed by experts in the fields of fitness, weight loss and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The Plan combined scientific research with an approach that was designed to be simple and sustainable. The goal of the Wellspring Plan was to help campers gain skills and motivation for lifelong healthy living.[11]

Wellspring's long-term outcomes—included sustained weight loss and improved health, mood and outlook—had been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.[6] A recent study found that 70 percent of Wellspring campers had maintained the weight or continued to lose in the six to nine months after camp ended; the weight loss afterward averaged 7.4 pounds.[8]

• Fat camp
• Weight loss resort