Around 80 children and teenagers on Monday began residence at a special summer camp in Shanghai. They have come from all over China, and are there for one reason - to loose weight, in a healthy way.

The summer camp is in its fourth year at the Shanghai University of Sport.

Overweight children and teenagers attend a summer camp in Shanghai which aims to help them lose weight in a healthy way, on Monday, July 9, 2007.

With a maximum age of 22, the camp offers attendees two, four or six week sessions. Each session is specially designed to feature healthy eating plans and a good dose of exercise, including outdoor sports, Taijiquan and oxygen therapy.

Previous years saw participants successfully shed anywhere from four to 12 kilograms, according to the camp's website.

Despite the high sign-up fee, which ranges from 4,600 to 12,800 yuan (US$1,687.55), calls have inundated the camp's hotline.

Juvenile obesity has become a worrying epidemic among parents. The summer camp's website quotes the latest figures from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, claiming that one in ten Chinese youths are suffering from obesity.

Overweight children and teenagers attend a summer camp in Shanghai which aims to help them lose weight in a healthy way, on Monday, July 9, 2007.

(CRIENGLISH.com July 11, 2007)