Professor Paul Gately: The Business of Weight Management

We’ve all heard of Fat Camps and Boot Camps, right…? Hoards of overweight teenagers running around a field, carrying a rucksack full of bricks, whilst being barked at by an ex Royal Marine…? Sound familiar?

Well surprisingly there are people out there who believe this method of managed weightloss isn’t the most effective way of treating children and teenagers for obesity.

Professor Paul Gately is an expert in obesity and weight management. He has successfully set up and managed more than 10 Weight Management Programmes and Camps for children suffering with obesity. The man himself states it is his “life mission to design, develop and deliver the most successful weight loss programmes for children anywhere in the world.”

100% People interview Professor Gately to find out exactly what Weight Management Programmes are and how they can help obese and overweight children to not only lose weight but learn to live active and healthy lifestyles thereafter.

What initially made you decide to research obesity especially in children?

There is no good quality provision for the treatment of overweight and obese children and I believe in doing things properly, after all, we are talking about children’s physical and emotional wellbeing!

What do you aim to achieve with your camps?

We have a number of aims: Firstly, to provide a safe place for children and teenagers to lose weight and learn skills to help manage their weight in the future, and to build and develop self-confidence. Secondly, to make camp and our other services available to a wider range of people so that we can help more families access our services.

How did you go about tackling this sensitive issue?

When tackling this issue, it is important to be sensitive but clear and direct. One has to appreciate the reality of the situation, people know they have a problem, so direct communication is key but in a sympathetic tone.

Did you research the American Boot Camps prior to launching your programme in the UK?

Yes, I spent 10 years in America and learnt ‘how not to do it’ which is why our approach is so successful!

How did you roll out the programmes in the UK?

We are currently in the process of rolling out our services nationally; we now have two residential camps one in Leeds and one in Reading. Plus we are launching four day camp programmes in Reading, Leeds, Birmingham and Cardiff. These sites are key because they are in major locations throughout the UK so by working in partnership we can help more families access these services.

Initially how did you manage to find people willing to try your programme?

We believe in engaging with the media on all levels to raise awareness not only for our programmes but to help break down the stigma of obesity for families. We also have a marketing campaign running to raise awareness in local areas. Our ethos is very much about working in partnerships and engaging with local networks and organisations to work together to combat this issue together.

How are the camps run?

There are a range of activities on camp. The core foundation is built on fun based physical activity, a ‘no fad’ diet, lifestyle education and social activities.

What can children expect when attending your camps?

Children can expect to have fun! They can expect to develop skills to keep weight off and to lose more in the future and make friends!

On average how long does a visit to the camp usually last?

4 – 6 weeks

How successful would you say the programmes been in the UK?

Our programmes are build on a strong evidence base and are scientifically proven. Our residential weight loss camp was Britain’s first weight loss camp in Britain and is now the longest running programme in Europe. We have the most amount of scientific evidence for our results, which we believe are not rivalled worldwide. Due to this success, we were highlighted as a model of good practice in the government’s Foresight report.

What do you have in place for the weight management programme and the camps for the future?

We want to be able help more families access our services. We are also looking into the possibility of expanding our services to adults . Plus, following a successful pilot for under 5’s we may look into running an under 8’s programme for families too.

How many campers would you estimate return each year?

50% of our campers return every year.

What is the average cost?

Minimum cost is £1,3000 for 2 weeks on camp and £195 per week for our day camp programme

Can families receive funding for the weight programmes?

There are a few families who manage to secure funding for the programme, which they have received through their local Primary Care Trust, charities and social services.