There’s a new TV show about teens that have been sent to a fat-camp and is raising some eyebrows. The show is called HUGE and stars Hayley Hasselhoff, the daughter of actor/singer David Hasselhoff and Nikki Blonsky, who played the lead in the film version of Hairspray. This new show is based on the young adult novel “Huge”, by Sasha Paley.

At camp “Victory,” these teens are subjected to very strict meals and drill-sergeant type “camp councilors” who are more like trainers. None of the teens have come to the camp voluntarily; instead they were forced there when their weight got out of control. In a familiar turn to many who have struggled with their weight most of their lives, Hayley’s character Amber has been dieting since she was 10. The diets got her nowhere, a common story that many can relate to in real life.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 percent of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 are obese. The show promises to not pull any punches but addresses the serious health issues involved, such as diabetes. An example of this is of a character shown checking their blood sugar. Other obesity related health issues for people in this age group are hypertension and heart disease.

An interesting thing about that camp is that many of the teens end up feeling deprived on their restricted diet, and an illicit “underground” trade is begun in candy, chocolates and other junk food. Many who have tried to lose weight on diets will be familiar with the cycle of feeling deprived and then breaking the restrictive diet, only to gain back any weight they lost. Because, diets don’t work!

Overweight teens also face the psychological issues of obesity, such as low self-esteem, depression and lack of social acceptance. These issues will also be explored in the TV show and will be especially poignant, as the characters face the double-whammy of pressures growing up and being ostracized by peers for their weight.

This show has just begun, so time will tell how the series plays out. It will be interesting to see how well the episodes cover the complex issues surrounding obesity, and it seems like they are on the right track with their approach. The issues faced by overweight teens are not all that different to the issues faced by overweight adults, so the series should be relevant to many teens and adults alike who suffer from the trails and tribulations of obesity.