Teen Fit Camp is channel 10's newest reality weight loss show that takes 6 Australian teenagers from being unhealthy and overweight, to being fit and healthy.
The Teens:
Sam
Age: 15
Weight 161kg
Lives: Ballarat, Victoria
’If I have to run away in the middle of the night I will find my own way home’
Sam is morbidly obese weighing 161kgs - this is nearly twice that of two full grown adults.
Sam’s home life is complicated, his parents are divorced which means every week Sam spends some nights at his Mum’s (Robyn) house and some nights at his Dad’s (Noel) house. His lifelong battle with obesity has meant a life of bullying and teasing.
This not only distresses Sam, but also his parents who fear his weight will continue to escalate to the point where he becomes bedridden.
GOAL: He also wants to be able to fit on the rides at the Ballart fair. He wants to be seen as 'something more than a fat loser’.
Leticha
Age: 16
Weight: 115kg
Lives: Brisbane, Queensland
’Just stay out of my way’
Leticha is classified as morbidly obese and has had a complicated life with her father David coming and going from the family home which has left her with a lot of anger.
She is quick to throw a tantrum and with constant bullying happening at school she lets her emotions bottle up until she explodes. She has found comfort in the Goth lifestyle and hasn’t made any friends since she was in year three because of her weight.
GOAL: Losing weight is one of her biggest dreams, she wants to wear a ’decent sized’ dress to her formal. She wants to be a dress designer.
Gemma
Age: 16
Weight: 110kg
Lives: Ormiston, Queensland
’I don’t deserve to be fat’
Gemma is also classified as morbidly obese she has two older sisters and a brother.
She lives with her Mum (Kym- a nurse) and Father (John- a scientist). Gemma and her mother are the only people in their home struggling with their weight. Gemma’s mother feels incredibly guilty about this. Like most teenage girls Gemma desperately wants a boyfriend, and believes her weight is holding her back. She doesn’t think she deserves to be fat and thinks she would be beautiful like her sisters if she lost weight.
GOAL: To walk in the room and light it up’. She also wants to fit into a bikini.
Jaleesa
Age: 16
Weight: 106kg
Lives: Milperra, News South Wales
’I don’t want to be lonely for the rest of my life’
Jaleesa lives with her mother - although her parents are divorced her father is close by for support.
She hates herself because of her weight and believes if she loses weight people will like her. Jaleesa is also worried about her health, particularly because of her Aboriginal heritage and because of the diabetic history in her family. A very strong girl, Jaleesa doesn’t like to show any weakness and doesn’t like to cry.
GOAL: Jaleesa wants to be able to buy normal teens clothes.
Christy
Age: 18
Weight: 90kg
Lives: Liverpool, New South Wales
’There’s only 56 days to go’
Christy’s parents are divorced but her father and other brother live nearby.
When she was 11 years old her mum Joanne had a horrific car accident. As a result Christy was unable to visit her mother for six months and took over the ?mother’ role of
the house looking after her two younger brothers. Her mother believes it stopped Christy from having a childhood. Because of the accident Christy finds it difficult to do anything without her mum, she is scared to let her out of her sight.
Christy has never spoken to anyone about her mother’s accident.
GOAL: She would like to get a job as a barmaid and to gain some independence.
Tom
Age: 17
Weight: 132kg
Lives: Golburn, New South Wales
’I’m a really stressed person - I can’t handle the stress’
Tom lives with his Mum (Ann), his stepfather and younger brother and sister.
Tom’s father died only last year from an obesity related disease which has scared Tom because he looks exactly like his father. Tom respects his late father, who
was a leader in the community, and wants to be just like him – with one exception – Tom wants to be healthy and not end up suffering from obesity.
Losing weight is a matter of life or death for Tom. He also suffers from bouts of depression.
GOALS: Tom wants to be just like his late father but doesn’t want to die from an obesity related disease like his father did.