CA: Obesity School

REEDLEY, CA - FERBUARY 2008: Wellspring Academy of California, a boarding school for obese teenagers, is the first boarding school for weight loss in the United States. Students earn better grades at Wellspring as their self-confidence increases. Many were underperforming academically because of behavioral problems. Children come from as far as Mexico, Scotland and even Kuwait to attend the school. Most stay between 4 and 18 months. A typical day at Wellspring involves waking up at 07:00, exercising for an hour, eating breakfast and doing chores, attending school from 09:30 to 15:25 (nutrition, culinary and fitness classes are mandatory in the curriculum) and then more exercising before and after dinner. Students consume a very low-fat diet (20grams or less of fat per day) and are required to take at least 10,000 steps a day (tracked with a pedometer). The school, run by 30 staffers, costs USD $6,250 per month for tuition and boarding, although the facilities are far from luxurious. (Photo by Stephan Gladieu/Getty Images)