6 Types of Weight Loss Camps for Adults

Six formats at a glance

1. Boot Camp

Typical focus

Structured exercise

Day-to-day experience

Group workouts and an active daily schedule

Before booking

Ask about starting fitness, activity modifications, and instructor credentials.

You don’t have to be morbidly obese with multiple medical conditions to spend a week or two at one of the many weight loss camps across the country. If you want to kick up your fitness routine and work on dropping those last twenty pounds, some weight loss camps for adults specialize in working you out until you drop.

Go from yoga to swimming to weight lifting to hiking, all before lunch, and then do it all again in the afternoon. Some boot camps require a certain fitness level (capable of hiking nine miles in a day) to make sure their programs cater to people who are already fit and just looking for a tune-up or to get over a plateau.

If you have a wedding or other special event coming up and you want to look your best, boot camp weight loss programs are the perfect choice for you.

2. Wilderness Adventure

Typical focus

Outdoor experience

Day-to-day experience

Hiking, camping, or adventure activities

Before booking

Ask about terrain, equipment, emergency arrangements, and physical demands.

Some types of weight loss camps for adults are camping adventures. Participants live in the great outdoors while they work off the pounds. If you like surviving in the outdoors by your wits and the contents of your backpack, make sure to check out camps that offer white-water rafting, hiking, and sleeping in your own tent.

If the idea of a roommate and shared bathroom inside a hotel for a week makes you feel claustrophobic, consider one of these more adventurous camps. If you’re looking for a hit of childhood summer-camp nostalgia, find a regular summer camp for kids that operates weight loss camp weeks in the off season. Other sports specialty camps, just like camps for kids, provide plenty of physical exercise and a healthy menu plan, so you may want to consider a week away at a sports camp, even though it’s not necessarily a weight loss camp.

3. Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Typical focus

Habit building

Day-to-day experience

Nutrition classes, movement, and behavior support

Before booking

Ask who teaches each component and what follow-up continues at home.

Some weight loss camps take a more intense approach to weight loss, pushing people to lose as much weight as possible in a short amount of time. However, if you want to learn more about nutrition and food choices and make permanent lifestyle changes, look for weight loss camps that take a more educational approach.

Losing five pounds in a week is impressive, but not if you don’t learn how to keep it off. If you want to make sure your weight loss becomes permanent, make sure to look for weight loss camps that have professional staff such as therapists, personal trainers, and nutritionists and offer a wealth of classes on healthy eating and managing your emotional state without using food.

4. Supervised by a Doctor

Typical focus

Medical support

Day-to-day experience

Assessment and a clinically directed plan

Before booking

Ask which clinicians are on site, their availability, and the conditions they manage.

For people with morbid obesity or serious medical conditions, weight loss camps designed and supervised by doctors are the best options. If you are large enough to have mobility concerns in regular fitness activities or have a medical problem such as diabetes or a heart condition, weight loss camps with an approach based on medical science will be most beneficial to you.

Look for weight loss camps at clinics or hospitals that specialize in morbid obesity and have plenty of medical staff, including both doctors and nurses, to monitor your health as you lose weight. These clinics have specialized equipment and facilities to care for and keep the largest patients safe and secure while they work on improving their health.

5. Luxurious Spa Retreat

Typical focus

Rest and amenities

Day-to-day experience

Wellness activities alongside spa services

Before booking

Separate treatments and accommodation from nutrition and exercise support in the quote.

If you want to relax your way to pampered weight loss, make sure to check out the more spa-oriented weight loss camps that feature massages, facials, pedicures, and wrap treatments to make you feel good while you lose weight.

Some camps feel more like luxury hotels than weight loss centers, making their clients feel like movie stars as they luxuriate their way to slimmer waistlines. If you don’t want a trainer screaming in your face or a grueling workout schedule, consider one of these more spa-like weight loss camps for adults with plenty of relaxing treatments that will make you glow when you get home with your slimmer figure.

6. As Seen on TV

Typical focus

Motivation and group intensity

Day-to-day experience

Trainer-led activity and structured meals

Before booking

Verify the current operator, actual schedule, and any advertised affiliation.

Due to the popular TV show ” The Biggest Loser,” weight loss camps have become a popular option for people looking to get away and focus on their weight and health. Just like on the show, participants exercise for most of the day with enthusiastic trainers to coach and cheer them on. The Biggest Loser weight loss resorts cost less than other, more luxurious camps while still providing both short-term results and the education and encouragement needed for long-term success.

Participants learn to shop for, prepare, and cook low-calorie meals and are encouraged to keep in touch with their fellow participants so that they can continue the supportive friendships that began at camp. Contestants from the TV show work at and visit the Biggest Loser weight loss camps to provide extra motivation and encouragement.

Now that you’ve learned about these 6 types of camps, take your pick from our list of the 5 best weight loss camps and programs in the US.

Before choosing a camp