Obese adolescents who go away to a weight-loss camp for four weeks not only return home thinner but in an improved psychological state, according to British researchers.

The researchers from the University of Leeds compared 57 obese boys and girls in their early teens with an average body mass index (BMI) of 32.6 with 38 normal weight adolescents.

During the four-week camp period, the obese adolescents on average lost about 12 pounds, and reduced their BMI by 2.1, while those in the comparison group gained weight, the researchers reported in the International Journal of Obesity.

"While obese adolescents had lower self-worth and greater body dissatisfaction relative to the comparison children at the start of the camp," the researchers reported, "this improvement took place without any exacerbation of existing worries about appearance or weight.

"Greater weight loss was associated with greater psychological improvement, indicating the value of the intervention and the relevance of psychological change in effective treatment," the researchers concluded.

Other sources: International Journal of Obesity