Woman Spent 10 Weeks At Fat Camp When She Was A Teen, Lists All The Things They Were Forced To Do There
To me, a thirty-something northern European, fat camps were just a Hollywood invention. I’ve never seen one nor have I known anyone who has.
However, the worldview I’ve adopted from my social bubble burst when I came across Hannah, an HR consultant and online content creator from the US who has actually had the displeasure of going to such an establishment.
But before we get into the details, it’s worth highlighting that Hannah wasn’t put there against her will. “I struggled with my weight at an early age after some traumatic things in my life, and desperately wanted to fit in with my peers, so my parents had the means to send me, and I went,” she told BuzzFeed.
This wasn’t a spontaneous decision too. Hannah and her family did their research. “Based on the way they advertised the scientific validity of the camp’s weight-loss methods, we thought it would be extremely effective (and it was in the short term).”
“But it unfortunately ingrained unhealthy eating habits in me for the years to follow — which, based on some other people who went to a weight-loss camp in their teens who have commented on my TikTok, seems to be very true for many of us.”
Meet Hannah, a 28-year-old HR consultant from North Carolina who recently went viral on TikTok for sharing her personal experience of attending a fat camp
Image credits: hannahalysee
In 2009, when she was 15, Hannah attended the now-defunct Wellspring Adventure Camp in Haywood County, North Carolina
Image credits: hannahalysee
Hannah said the kids at the camp were aged 11–18 and the counselors weighed them as soon as they arrived.
Campers received journals where they were supposed to track everything they ate, as well as pedometers to wear on their wrists to track their steps.
Everyone was basically on the same diet — it only varied depending on whether they were male or female. Hannah herself was on fewer than 1,200 calories and 20 grams of fat per day, which sounds pretty extreme when you consider that the average energy requirement for 15-year-old girls is 2,390 kcal.
Of course, the exact number can vary from person to person but our teenage years are a time of rapid growth and we need to get sufficient amounts of food to meet the needs of our developing bodies.
Hannah spent 10 weeks there, which was the longest she’d been away from home at the time
“When going to get meals, we had to stand outside the food hall and wait to be called to get in line,” Hannah explained.
“The order of that was determined by how loud your cabin could do cabin cheers… It was weird, and sometimes when you didn’t get picked first, they’d be out of the ‘good stuff’ for some of us because all the other campers had went through and gotten their meals before you.”
The woman described what it was like on TikTok
@hannahalysee Reply to @oratilelove1 #greenscreen I realize it’s called a “wellness camp” and not a “fat camp” but lets be real #fyp #foryou #weightlossstories #fatcamp #childhoodmemories #storytime ♬ original sound – Hannah
“Breakfast would often be egg whites, fat-free/low-fat yogurts, bagels, and fruits. Lunch and dinner were mostly chicken or buffalo meat — things that were high in protein and low in fat. We’d snack on things like those little 100-calorie SnackWell’s or Fig Newtons two times a day, in addition to our three meals. Sometimes we’d get diet soda as a ‘treat,’ and they really just pushed the low-cal, low-fat diet for us,” the woman recalled.
And said she chose to go there willingly
Image credits: hannahalysee
Hannah described how the camp was set up and the diet she had to follow
@hannahalysee Reply to @galwayyygirl #greenscreen ♬ original sound – Hannah
As well as many other things that happened there
@hannahalysee Reply to @lyndsay3000 I also rigged up movies in my iPod & that wasn’t allowed but I broke rules 💁🏼♀️ #fyp #foryou #fatcamp #weightlossstories #VenmoSpringBreak #macysownyourstyle ♬ original sound – Hannah
Hannah lost 40 pounds in the 10 weeks she was at the camp. There was a weekly weigh-in and it made the environment extremely competitive among the kids.
“I lost consistently, but I was also proud of myself when I’d eat less than the prescribed diet,” she said.
The campers often bragged to each other about how much they shed each week.
Here’s what she looked like before the camp, weighing around 216 pounds
Image credits: hannahalysee
During the camp
Image credits: hannahalysee
And after, when she came back home
Image credits: hannahalysee
Image credits: hannahalysee
But the changes weren’t for long. “I gained back the 40 pounds I lost in [those] 10 weeks, and more, and I just never could figure out how to ‘eat right’ and remained on diets for 10 more years after camp. I think the experience engrained in me the restrictive, rapid weight-loss diet mindset, and I had to finally learn that it’s OK to eat more than 1,200 calories and actually fuel my body with all three food groups, and not eliminate one.”
Many people were surprised that fat camps were real and not just a movie gimmick
Hannah said there were many things that could’ve been done differently
@hannahalysee Reply to @meloisorange_priv #fyp #foryou #fatcamp ♬ original sound – Hannah
And opened up about her life beyond fat camp
@hannahalysee A little about me beyond fat camp #weightlossstory #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – Hannah
Image credits: hannahalysee
Good grief this pisses me off so bad. Camps like these should be declared a public health problem and be shut down. Camps should be teaching nutrition and instilling a love of exercise. Not hammering eat disorders into these people.
Yep! People also need to recognize that a lot of people have a genetic predisposition towards being what is considered "overweight" but can be healthy at that weight, and that disability and underlying conditions can further complicate things. Most of what we understand about fatness (using that as a fat person) is wrong. It is possible to be what's considered overweight and healthy, you're more likely to be fat because you're sick than sick because you're fat, and about 98 percent of intentional weight loss fails and the weight is regained because weight is basically a mix of genetics and nonfood/exercise environmental factors.
Load More Replies...
Jeez, that's pretty scary. 1200 PLUS 12 hours of activity is just not acceptable - I'd be surprised if none of them passed out/were unwell. I understand these types of places in a way, but their main goal is obviously "show them they got their moneys worth", quick results etc. In reality, they should be teaching people how to eat right and choose a sustainable diet and exercise routine. Plans should be tailored to each individual.
I was on a diet app that had me eating 1200 calories a day but the weight wasn't really coming off so I would do less, finally found out that I had literally put my body in starvation mode so I increased my calories and the weight started coming off really quickly. Honestly I didn't have that much weight to lose but I was starving myself to get rid of those extra tummy pounds.
Load More Replies...
Why does this exist?? This is really harmful especially to children wtf. I feel bad for everyone who had to go there, but especially for the girls. over exercising and not eating enough can disrupt your period cycle and its really unhealthy.
It exists because many people think that skinny is always healthier than fat, always, damn all other aspects.
Load More Replies...
Everyone who's wondering why these exist: just look at all the other comments where they call fat peoble just existing "glorifying/promoting obesity" and fat kids just existing "this new trend of letting your kids be obese". Opinions like that is why these camps exist. Id rather ALL kids ate enough than ANY were put on starvation diets like this, no matter what they weigh.
This is a "crash weight loss program", and the body suffers. Diet is part of lifestyle. it's extremely risky for some people to do that kind of activity during a period of (effectively) fasting!
That's a shame because she seems to have enjoyed the activity aspects of the camp. There is no reason to have starved the kids just to cause such extreme results. They could have been a successful camp, promoting active lifestyles and healthy eating.
I'm overweight and I used to wish I could afford to go to one of those places because I have no discipline and thought if I could just get forced to do it, it would jumpstart me into getting healthier. Yeah, it sooo doesn't work that way. Well I did end up going on a strict diet where I lost 70lbs in 3 months. And not only gained it back but I had hanging skin because I lost it so fast, and when the fat came back it doesn't go back to the same place. I ended up fatter AND with skin hanging. These places would be great if they promoted positivity and healthy weight loss and attitudes but they're just cash grabs. They want the parents to think they spent the money wisely so they put them on a crash diet and they lose weight so of course they're happy, only to have them gain it back and more, like every other fad diet.
So they dont bring a nutritionist in, teach the kids how to eat healthy and excercise, how to change your routine, how to allow yourself a treat now and then.... they teach hem that they should be ashamed of the way they look to loose weight you just eat less. I guarantee over half those kids gained weight back when they got home.
There are so many variables about weight, health and looks. It's very difficult. But shaming really doesn't work.
My theory...who cares what you weigh...as long as you are happy with yourself.
So basically it was a prison where they forced you to lose weight, develop an ed, and have no contact with the outside world. WTF
"the average energy requirement for 15-year-old girls is 2,390 kcal" __ this is a myth that comes from inaccurate (co2-based) caloric measurements. No wonder people are so f*****g fat
I'm a 5'10 26 year old women and 2,390 is too much even for me. My tdee is around 1,800. It amazes me that people can't use a bmi calculator correctly.
Load More Replies...
My mom had gone through some really rough years, after my dad being murdered and my younger brothers dad stealing all her money. She was in therapy for a pretty long time, and eventually we started to see her therapist also. Well he convinced my mom she needed a break from her kids and sent all 6 of us to Charter Hospital mental health facility. At some point they decided at 8 years old I was overweight and put me on a very strict diet. I remember always feeling hungry at night, since I mostly just consumed broths and salads. They had a vending machine in the visiting area and someone gave me a snack from it. You would of thought I pulled a bank heist or done something worse because they caught me and I was scolded by 6 different adults for eating. I was punished for being a thief since what I ate is not what they provided to me and was band from the TV room for two weeks.
The COVID 19 with Pnumonia Diet works a little (sarcasm). I lost 21 lbs in three weeks. When I could drink and eat again I put in 8lb in water weight in the first week just to get homeostatis from severe dehydration. Gained another 6lb in lost muscle when I could eat again. Overall loss of 6lb, but NOT worth it for three weeks of torture.
They take your money, make you loose weight fast, then you go home back to the same diet you started with.
I hope those "camps" and the "troubled teen" industry gets banned immediately. Both should be considered by everyone what they really are child abuse.
everything is really awful, it should be illegal, but I got confused when she was talking about the 16 girls in bunker beds, the cabin cheering for eating, the 2 sinks, 2 showers, 2 cabins and shower rotation as if it was something awful, all the summer camps I went during my whole life were like that, its not the best thing ever, but its a summer camp not a hotel, in summer camps I showered in cold water more than in hot water🤷🏻♀️ but maybe it felt worse to her since she was barely eating and very tired
I lost a significant amount of weight (60+ lbs) and have kept it off for three years being on a diet of 1200-1400 calories a day with moderate exercise and tracking it through an app. I think the main difference is that I was the one choosing how to feed myself. I learned that the portion sizes I had been eating were way too large. If you're being fed prepared meals of course you'll go back to your old habits as soon as you stop. 1200 calories a day is considered the minimum you should eat. I need to eat around 1800 calories a day to maintain my current normal weight.
At one point I weighed roughly 240lbs (my average weight is between 170-180lbs) and I took up boxing as a way to get in shape. Over a span of 6 weeks I went from 240lbs down to 176lbs. I still ate like a fatty but the exercise worked wonders. A lot of what I lost was water weight and fats. I would never recommend any diet under 2k calories unless my nutritionist explicitly states so. Terrible what they did to her.
I highly recommend the “Maintenance Phase” podcast if you’d like to hear two incredibly intelligent people tear fad diets, fat shaming, and awful scammers to shreds.
I read the entire thing, but I just can't get over the name of the road. Camp Hope Rd? That's straight out of Heavyweights.
This is horrible. I struggled a lot with my weight when I was younger but I’m glad my mom was there to help me trough it! Also is it just me or are her eyes like so pretty!!
yeah, but there's a big difference between being morbidly obese and being slightly overweight. and if you are obese there are much safer and much healthier ways to lose weight.
Load More Replies...
Hanna your a beautiful thick young woman who should just love yourself matter or thin or thick your are 💓
Says the neck-beard troll with over 2,500+ downvotes. You're the last one who should be giving advice.
Load More Replies...
Wow KT, don't you sound kind-hearted and open-minded? I hope that you go find your empathy...you seem to have lost it. Boohoo, go be nasty and judgemental somewhere else. I'll give you a soapbox if you want.
Load More Replies... Good grief this pisses me off so bad. Camps like these should be declared a public health problem and be shut down. Camps should be teaching nutrition and instilling a love of exercise. Not hammering eat disorders into these people.
Yep! People also need to recognize that a lot of people have a genetic predisposition towards being what is considered "overweight" but can be healthy at that weight, and that disability and underlying conditions can further complicate things. Most of what we understand about fatness (using that as a fat person) is wrong. It is possible to be what's considered overweight and healthy, you're more likely to be fat because you're sick than sick because you're fat, and about 98 percent of intentional weight loss fails and the weight is regained because weight is basically a mix of genetics and nonfood/exercise environmental factors.
Load More Replies... Jeez, that's pretty scary. 1200 PLUS 12 hours of activity is just not acceptable - I'd be surprised if none of them passed out/were unwell. I understand these types of places in a way, but their main goal is obviously "show them they got their moneys worth", quick results etc. In reality, they should be teaching people how to eat right and choose a sustainable diet and exercise routine. Plans should be tailored to each individual.
I was on a diet app that had me eating 1200 calories a day but the weight wasn't really coming off so I would do less, finally found out that I had literally put my body in starvation mode so I increased my calories and the weight started coming off really quickly. Honestly I didn't have that much weight to lose but I was starving myself to get rid of those extra tummy pounds.
Load More Replies... Why does this exist?? This is really harmful especially to children wtf. I feel bad for everyone who had to go there, but especially for the girls. over exercising and not eating enough can disrupt your period cycle and its really unhealthy.
It exists because many people think that skinny is always healthier than fat, always, damn all other aspects.
Load More Replies... Everyone who's wondering why these exist: just look at all the other comments where they call fat peoble just existing "glorifying/promoting obesity" and fat kids just existing "this new trend of letting your kids be obese". Opinions like that is why these camps exist. Id rather ALL kids ate enough than ANY were put on starvation diets like this, no matter what they weigh.
This is a "crash weight loss program", and the body suffers. Diet is part of lifestyle. it's extremely risky for some people to do that kind of activity during a period of (effectively) fasting!
That's a shame because she seems to have enjoyed the activity aspects of the camp. There is no reason to have starved the kids just to cause such extreme results. They could have been a successful camp, promoting active lifestyles and healthy eating.
I'm overweight and I used to wish I could afford to go to one of those places because I have no discipline and thought if I could just get forced to do it, it would jumpstart me into getting healthier. Yeah, it sooo doesn't work that way. Well I did end up going on a strict diet where I lost 70lbs in 3 months. And not only gained it back but I had hanging skin because I lost it so fast, and when the fat came back it doesn't go back to the same place. I ended up fatter AND with skin hanging. These places would be great if they promoted positivity and healthy weight loss and attitudes but they're just cash grabs. They want the parents to think they spent the money wisely so they put them on a crash diet and they lose weight so of course they're happy, only to have them gain it back and more, like every other fad diet.
So they dont bring a nutritionist in, teach the kids how to eat healthy and excercise, how to change your routine, how to allow yourself a treat now and then.... they teach hem that they should be ashamed of the way they look to loose weight you just eat less. I guarantee over half those kids gained weight back when they got home.
There are so many variables about weight, health and looks. It's very difficult. But shaming really doesn't work.
My theory...who cares what you weigh...as long as you are happy with yourself.
So basically it was a prison where they forced you to lose weight, develop an ed, and have no contact with the outside world. WTF
"the average energy requirement for 15-year-old girls is 2,390 kcal" __ this is a myth that comes from inaccurate (co2-based) caloric measurements. No wonder people are so f*****g fat
I'm a 5'10 26 year old women and 2,390 is too much even for me. My tdee is around 1,800. It amazes me that people can't use a bmi calculator correctly.
Load More Replies... My mom had gone through some really rough years, after my dad being murdered and my younger brothers dad stealing all her money. She was in therapy for a pretty long time, and eventually we started to see her therapist also. Well he convinced my mom she needed a break from her kids and sent all 6 of us to Charter Hospital mental health facility. At some point they decided at 8 years old I was overweight and put me on a very strict diet. I remember always feeling hungry at night, since I mostly just consumed broths and salads. They had a vending machine in the visiting area and someone gave me a snack from it. You would of thought I pulled a bank heist or done something worse because they caught me and I was scolded by 6 different adults for eating. I was punished for being a thief since what I ate is not what they provided to me and was band from the TV room for two weeks.
The COVID 19 with Pnumonia Diet works a little (sarcasm). I lost 21 lbs in three weeks. When I could drink and eat again I put in 8lb in water weight in the first week just to get homeostatis from severe dehydration. Gained another 6lb in lost muscle when I could eat again. Overall loss of 6lb, but NOT worth it for three weeks of torture.
They take your money, make you loose weight fast, then you go home back to the same diet you started with.
I hope those "camps" and the "troubled teen" industry gets banned immediately. Both should be considered by everyone what they really are child abuse.
everything is really awful, it should be illegal, but I got confused when she was talking about the 16 girls in bunker beds, the cabin cheering for eating, the 2 sinks, 2 showers, 2 cabins and shower rotation as if it was something awful, all the summer camps I went during my whole life were like that, its not the best thing ever, but its a summer camp not a hotel, in summer camps I showered in cold water more than in hot water🤷🏻♀️ but maybe it felt worse to her since she was barely eating and very tired
I lost a significant amount of weight (60+ lbs) and have kept it off for three years being on a diet of 1200-1400 calories a day with moderate exercise and tracking it through an app. I think the main difference is that I was the one choosing how to feed myself. I learned that the portion sizes I had been eating were way too large. If you're being fed prepared meals of course you'll go back to your old habits as soon as you stop. 1200 calories a day is considered the minimum you should eat. I need to eat around 1800 calories a day to maintain my current normal weight.
At one point I weighed roughly 240lbs (my average weight is between 170-180lbs) and I took up boxing as a way to get in shape. Over a span of 6 weeks I went from 240lbs down to 176lbs. I still ate like a fatty but the exercise worked wonders. A lot of what I lost was water weight and fats. I would never recommend any diet under 2k calories unless my nutritionist explicitly states so. Terrible what they did to her.
I highly recommend the “Maintenance Phase” podcast if you’d like to hear two incredibly intelligent people tear fad diets, fat shaming, and awful scammers to shreds.
I read the entire thing, but I just can't get over the name of the road. Camp Hope Rd? That's straight out of Heavyweights.
This is horrible. I struggled a lot with my weight when I was younger but I’m glad my mom was there to help me trough it! Also is it just me or are her eyes like so pretty!!
yeah, but there's a big difference between being morbidly obese and being slightly overweight. and if you are obese there are much safer and much healthier ways to lose weight.
Load More Replies... Hanna your a beautiful thick young woman who should just love yourself matter or thin or thick your are 💓
Says the neck-beard troll with over 2,500+ downvotes. You're the last one who should be giving advice.
Load More Replies... Wow KT, don't you sound kind-hearted and open-minded? I hope that you go find your empathy...you seem to have lost it. Boohoo, go be nasty and judgemental somewhere else. I'll give you a soapbox if you want.
Load More Replies...
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