The best weight loss camps use an approach to changing the behavior and lifestyles of students that has a long and solid scientific basis. The highlights of this scientific foundation — outlined below — illustrate some of the key developments in the history of the treatment of weight problems among children, teenagers, and adults. This scientific foundation has allowed camps such as Wellspring Camps to incorporate every major approach demonstrated by research to be effective in treating excess weight in adolescents and its complications.
Ferster and associates (1962). Ferster and colleagues showed how principles of learning established in laboratory and field studies could be applied to treating problems such as obesity. They showed that weight problems can be viewed as a function of learned behavior (learned problems in eating) that could be unlearned and replaced by new habits. More specifically, they showed how principles such as stimulus control, shaping, chaining and reinforcement could help people learn new, more effective ways of eating and exercising.
Stuart (1967). Stuart showed through a series of case studies that the principles of learning when applied to changing eating habits could lead to very successful outcomes: averages of more than 30 pounds of weight loss in overweight adults.
Epstein (1990). Epstein and associates showed that children treated with a cognitive–behavioral and family–based approach maintained substantial improvements in weight over a ten year follow–up period compared to comparison and control conditions.
Perri (1992). Harvey-Berino (2004). Perri and colleagues demonstrated that longer treatments produce better outcomes and that the content of the treatment matters less than expected. As long as the treatment promotes focusing on the problem (and self-monitoring), weight controllers often benefit from frequent contact with therapists and others who help them concentrate on this aspect of life. Harvey–Berino and associates showed that maintaining contact with therapists via the Internet helped "participants sustain comparable weight loss over 18 months compared to individuals who continued to meet face-to-face." Therefore, a weight loss camp that offers follow-up on the Internet may offer added benefits and improve long-term results.