Boarding School for Obese Teens Shows Promise : Students in the Academy of the Sierras' first class lost an average of 85 pounds.

Follow-up after the students leave the program includes extensive family involvement and an Internet-based aftercare program. Although longer-term follow-up clearly will be needed to fully evaluate the effects of the program, current support for it is justified by the magnitude and consistency of behavioral and activity changes seen in this first AOS class, Dr. Kirschenbaum said.

Academy of the Sierras students combine academics with a special diet and activity management. The student on the left (also shown in the photo on the right) lost a total of 73 pounds in 7 months. Academy of the Sierras