Imagine spending the summer playing volleyball and golfing on the legendary courses of Pinehurst.

Wellspring Family Camp, one of the most effective weight-loss programs in the world, is offering the opportunity for parents and children to enjoy these activities together, while also learning how to live healthier lifestyles. The program is now enrolling families for one-, two- and three-week sessions, which begin June 14.

A recent study found that family-based lifestyle programs that modify diet and physical activity, and include behavioral therapy, can help obese children lose weight and maintain that loss for at least six months, with adolescents maintaining their weight loss for at least 12 months, according to a news release from Wellspring.

Family Camp is designed to teach parents and their children, ages 5-15, how to achieve long-term weight loss success during a fun-filled summer vacation at Pinehurst Resort. Campers and their parents lose an average of three pounds per week by learning how to prepare low-fat meals and achieving 10,000 steps a day through walks, hikes and a variety of fun activities such as kayaking, flag football and paddle boating.

"Wellspring's program is based on years of scientific research," said Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, clinical director of Wellspring. "Unlike traditional 'fat camps,' Wellspring combines diet and activity management with cognitive-behavioral therapy to help campers develop the skills necessary to lose weight and maintain success after returning home."

According to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, 26 percent of North Carolina adults are obese, while 42 percent of children ages 5-11, and 47 percent of children 12-18 are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight

Families wanting to enroll or interested in more information about Family Camp can visit the Web site at www.wellspringfamilycamp.com.

"Family Camp offers the entire family an opportunity to lose weight together," said Martha Laugen, program director for Wellspring Family Camp. "For younger children and teens, it's absolutely critical the entire family works together to gain skills and motivation to live healthy lifestyles forever. Family Camp gives them these tools."

Wellspring Academies, Well-spring Camps and Wellspring Fit Clubs are recognized as the leading weight loss treatment programs for overweight children, teens and young adults. Founded in 2004 as Healthy Living Academies, the organization is now recognized under one name, Wellspring.

Wellspring offers programs for youth and adults, including year-round boarding schools, summer camps, after-school programs and adult retreats.

The Wellspring Academies boarding schools include Well-spring Academy of California and Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas.