Looking For Professionals Advice

[Khun Jean]

Looking for professionals with the following expertise:

Dietitian

Nutritionist

Counselor

Behavior modification specialist

Personal trainer

Tennis instructor

Lifeguard

Dive instructor

Aerobics instructor

Athletic specialist

Rock climbing specialist

Yoga/Pilates instructor

A few people and myself are in the process of writing a business plan. The plan is to start a "weight loss camp" in Thailand. I am looking for people who have experience in one of the above fields and want to share their knowledge. I can use help to cover fields in which i have no or little experience. For an example of what we want to do look at Camp La Jolla and imagine it in Thailand somewhere around a coastal area. If you look at their fees you will understand there is an oppertunity of doing a camp like this in Thailand. A site of around 8 rai and another of 12 rai are being considered.

Experiences from people who visited camps like this, your info would be extremely helpful. Like to hear about what you enjoyed and hated while in "camp".

One of our group has been a camp leader for several years but lacks knowledge about Thailand and its specific laws. Another is a physician and of course a few investors so the project don't need a financier. Future job openings will be filled with 20-30% foreigner and 70-80% Thai. Current estimate of opening is august 2008.

Many thanks in advance.

Khun Jean

Admin:

If this is better placed in another forum please be so kind to move it.

[Vit42]

The idea is not new to Thailand as you can read the excerpt below from a 1995 study from the Thai medical association journal. The names and hospitals mentioned might be a good place for you to start your own due diligence.

I take it you’re targeting foreigners for your camp? It may be cheaper in Thailand but the inconvenience of traveling, being in another country, eating unusual food, and suffering from the much hotter conditions may make your idea difficult to execute.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.f...6&dopt=Abstract

A summer camp for childhood obesity in Thailand.

Jirapinyo P, Limsathayourat N, Wongarn R, Limsathayourat N, Bunnag A, Chockvivatvanit S.

Clinical Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

The results of a 4-week summer camp for childhood obesity were reported. Twenty-one children with moderate to severe obesity, aged between 8-13 years, joined the program. Dietary restriction during the official hours and dietary self-control at home were implemented throughout the program. Exercise, swimming and group therapy were also implemented throughout the program. Weekly sight-seeing outside the camp was very interesting for the participants. After the program, all participants had lost weight which was about 5 per cent of their initial weight. Most of the weight loss was due to loss of body fat but not lean body mass. No complications occurred during the program. The 4-week summer camp is then practical for initiating weight loss for obese children. Long-term follow-up which is underway will be reported later.

[Khun Jean]

Vit42,

Thanks for that link. I heared about it too but could not find it.

It will not be a childrens camp but for adults. Being far away can be an extra reason to go. With food you always have to be carefull, but if it is not too spicey many local thai dishes are good. Even ingredients for "farang" food is not that difficult anymore. The compound will be much like a normal holiday resort but with extra facilities to be able to run weight loss programs. A 4 week program is great for a taste of a different lifestyle but for real weight loss a much longer period is necessary. Focus will be on weightloss programs that take longer. Like you are now 100 kilo's, you may go when you are 80 kilo. A bit extreme example but you get the point. A little military like discipline ,training and motivation.

It will be a niche market but the marketplace is the whole world so there is confidence that enough clients will be found. As said the compound will be available for tourists, but if they wish they can enroll in a weightloss program too.

I think there will be a market for obese children too, but that would require much more medical facilities and expertise.