The obesity epidemic in the United States has definitely improved profit margins for quite a few companies. In addition to websites playing upon the weaknesses of those trying to lose weight by offering them a “sure thing” diet, there are now schools created specifically for those between the ages of 11 and 24 who have the money to check in and get ‘er done.
Wellspring Academies offer middle school, high school and college level academic programs, as well as summer programs, so that young people can simply transfer to their chosen school for a semester (a minimum of four months) and stay as long as they need to (or as long as they can write the tuition checks).
While there are a great many success stories coming out of Wellspring Academies, they don’t come inexpensively. Tuition at Wellspring will cost each student $6,250 per month. Tuition covers the entire program: diet management, activity management, behavioral, residential and academic.
Although nearly 25% of monthly tuition fees may be reimbursed by your health insurance provider, the price tag is still prohibitive for the average American family. Student loans and medical tax deductions may ease the burden somewhat. Still, footing the balance of the bill at about $1000 per week could be a problem. If your son or daughter attends a private school, you may already be paying this sort of tuition so this could be a very good idea. Ultimately, you’ll have to look at your own budget and determine if the cost is something you can afford. Surely many parents will find that the cost, when balanced against tuition, daily travel to and from school, groceries and diet plans may just be quite feasible.
The Wellspring Academies tout a low fat, high exercise program that teaches their students to eat less than 20 grams of fat each day and to walk 10,000 steps a day (approximately five miles), monitor everything they eat and the exercise they do in a journal and to find the root causes of their overeating to begin with.
To many, this may seem like common sense, but there are many parents who either don’t have the time to teach these lessons to their children or are simply unaware of how to lose weight and unable to teach their children these healthy habits. That is where the Wellspring Academies fill a healthy niche.
For more information on the Wellspring Academies in California, North Carolina and Massachusetts, visit their website here.