Elk River Healthy Lifestyles, a division of The Pinnacle Schools, is a therapeutic teen weight loss programEffective weight loss programs concentrate on changing negative behaviors in the long-term. By combining therapies, physical activities and a healthy diet, students learn to make positive choices while maintaining a healthier lifestyle.. ERHL is a medically-based, multi-disciplinary and developmentally sensitive approach designed for overweight teens. A safe alternative to traditional fat campsThe goal of "fat camps" is to lose weight quickly while having fun. Most campers weight loss is a result of healthy diet, smaller portions and increased activity. However, the differences between weight management programs and fat camps are not only the facilities, food and staff but the overall long term result. Without dealing with the core issues (depression, co-dependency, food addiction) the weight will come back., Elk River provides intensive therapeutic and weight loss services for the whole teen, not just the problem with obesity.

Between 16 and 33 percent of children and teenagers are obese. While obesity is easy to recognize, it is one of the most difficult medical conditions to treat. Teen obesity is rapidly becoming the most serious health issue facing youth today. The earlier teens work towards a healthy weight, the more likely they will grow into healthy adults and help reverse serious health conditions. The health risks of being obese are well-known and include but are not limited to:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Respiratory problems
• Joint pain
• Neurological impairments

In addition to serious medical problems, overweight teens struggle with social and psychological issues. Many students struggle with the following:

• Sedentary or Low Activity Level
• Disordered Eating Patterns
• Food/Drug/Alcohol Addiction
• Online Gaming Addiction Online gaming addiction is an addiction to online video games, role-playing games or any interactive gaming environment. This addiction has increased dramatically in the U.S. Gaming stimulates the brain's "reward centers" which stimulates the same high a drug addict or alcoholic feels. Signs and symptoms include: restless and irritable when doing other activities, eating meals at the computer while gaming, inability to keep track of time spent gaming, increasingly defensive about game playing habits, declining school performance, skipping class to continue game play, defiant, isolation from family and friends.
• Impulsivity
• Depression An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The signs and symptoms of depression include loss of interest in activities; loss of appetite with weight loss or overeating with weight gain; loss of emotional expression; a persistently sad or anxious mood; feelings of hopelessness, pessimism, social withdrawal; low energy level; trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; unusual restlessness or irritability. Alcohol or drug abuse may also be signs of depression.
• Passive, Apathetic, or Anhedonia Anhedonia is the technical term for the inability to experience joy. When people are in the depths of depression, nothing touches them, not the most intensely pleasurable activities, not the most familiar comforts. They are emotionally frozen.
• Low Self Esteem
• Poor Peer Relationships
• TruancyFailure to attend school regularly without parents approval./Poor School Performance
• Lack of Health Maintenance Behaviors
• ADD/ADHD There has been great controversy over the existence of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, but if your teen has it you will feel its effects. These teens present with difficulty sustaining attention in class and may have problems with short-term memory function. Other teens will be in constant motion, unable to sit for any length of time. They will talk out in class and exhibit impulsiveness. Most teens with AD/HD diagnosis will demonstrate both inattentiveness and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. AD/HD has been shown to be a risk factor for development of poor academic functioning, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, substance use and a myriad of other behavioral problems.
• Anger
• Defiance Individuals with a disposition to resist and/or a willingness to contend or fight.

ERHL students receive a state-of-the-art individualized program based on their unique needs. Our program combines intensive counseling, academics, fitness and nutrition education. In addition, weekly clinical exercise and nutritional assessments help facilitate safe weight loss. Students attend individual and group counseling sessions to discover the core issues related to their eating disorder. Topics explored in counseling include but are not limited to:

• Depression
• Self-esteem
• Food addiction
• Co-dependency
• Stress management
• Limit setting
• Healthy self-nurturing behaviors

A highly trained and caring adult staff works with students to improve skills, such as peer relations, resulting in a positive self-image. Healthy food choices, physical conditioning and academic success create the confidence teens need to stop excessive behaviors and pursue healthier, more active lifestyles. Elk River Healthy Lifestyles gives teens the tools needed to build self-confidence and the motivation to maintain a healthy weight.

Elk River Healthy Lifestyles recognizes the importance of education and believes no student should fall behind academically while missing school for treatment. Our school specializes in education for students in grades 6-12. See ERHL Academic Information.

Parents receive weekly progress reports and a personal workbook that mirrors their child's program.

The parent workbook promotes parent skills such as family-based problem solving, expressive communication, healthy limit setting and nurturing techniques. At the end of the program, parents attend a 3-day Family Workshop. The workshop is intended to help families reconnect while working together on a plan for success.

Elk River Healthy Lifestyles supports the mission of The Pinnacle Schools by providing an environment of respect, acceptance, and challenge where students can become self-directed, educated, and contributing members of society.