FAT camps are the latest in-thing as American children deal with their growing waistlines.

These weight-loss camps which dangle scholarships and other subsidised programmes as carrots are being met with overwhelming demand, reported The New York Times.

A main reason for the popularity of such scholarships is the twin impact of increasing rate of obesity among children - their target group - and the costly nature of their programmes.

There are 9 million overweight or obese children in the US and childhood obesity has tripled since 1980.

Summer weight loss camps are usually profit-making and can cost more than $1,000 ($1,418) a week. Most health insurance policies do not cover the cost.

This year, Camp Pocono Trails, part of a chain of three camps, received 173 entries to its essay contest - an scholarship entry requirement - for 10 slots. Winners aren't neccessarily financially needy as judging is based on the quality of the essay.

Another chain, Wellspring, received more than 200 applications for 35 subsidised or free stays at one of its nine camps. It is now seeking corporate sponsors to help provide more scholarships.

But Tiffany King, 12, can count herself lucky.

The 1.52m tall, 160kg girl got a subsidised eight-week stay Pocono Trails that normally costs US$8,000.

She submitted a personal essay that was well written, sad and compelling. She wrote: 'If I could get on my knees and beg for this campership, I would, because I want to feel good about my life.'

She compared herself to a 'plump caterpillar' waiting to break free of its cocoon.

These camps emphasise exercise and controlled meal portions while serving balanced diets and they show results. For instance Tiffany had lost 17kg and hopes to get down to 138kg by the time camp ends.

Several national groups are pressing for government financing or insurance reimbursement for more intensive weight loss treatment including these weight loss camps.

Dr. Charles Homer, the chief executive of the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality, a non-profit organisation said the country's challenge was to make such programmes available to large numbers of children all year-round, while involving their parents.

In the meantime, the wait to get into the camps continue, with many children having to likely to follow Tiffany's lead.

This article was published in The New Paper on August 20, 2008.