MTV Archive: Fat Camp 2006

This post will go into general info about the show Fat Camp and a synopsis of the show, I will be making another post going into where the cast is today and will also cover the sequel :)

​​Fat Camp was a documentary shot by MTV in the summer of 2005 and aired in February of 2006. They follow 5 teenagers as they attend Camp Poconos Trails, a summer camp that helps kids to lose weight and adopt healthier lifestyles. We are introduced to our cast one by one as they talk about what they would like to change, their current weight, and how much weight they’d like to lose at the end of the summer. Of our main 5 there is: Dianne, Matt, Marisa "Mo", Petey, and Braelyn. 

Dianne is a 14-year-old homeschooled girl, who is struggling with diabetes and wants to lose weight so she can attend public high school. This is her first time attending camp. During the show, Dianne is shown to be less than optimistic about camp life and is constantly using her mother, the camp nurse, as a crutch. This results in her being overly whiny and constantly complaining about exercising and having to interact with others.

Matt is a 16-year-old boy who wants to get into better shape in time for football season. He is shown to be a likable guy and has many friends at the camp. He also ends up in a relationship with Marissa. 

Marisa "Mo" is a 16-year-old girl who wants to lose weight to get more confidence. She is a returning camper who has been promoted to junior counselor. This means that she is responsible for those in her bunk, motivating them to exercise, and mediating issues. She is one of the most well-liked of the cast and at camp overall, except for Petey. Mo was in a relationship with Petey the previous summer but has since moved on to Matt. Her relationship with the two boys is a major plot line in the show. 

Petey is a 16-year-old boy who wants to lose weight and gain muscle so that he can have “6-pack abs..”. From the beginning, Petey is a habitual shit-talker who loves talking behind people's backs, especially his ex Mo. Most of his screen time is devoted to gossiping about her or lamenting about how he wants her back. 

Brealyn is a 17-year-old girl attending camp as a junior counselor. From her initial introduction, she is shown to not be serious about camp but would still like to lose weight. Her absence and lack of motivation get her in trouble constantly. 

Overview of events

• The camp opens and the kids start arriving, some of the cast interact and Petey looks for Marisa

• We get some backstory into their relationship and why they aren’t together anymore

• Braelyn and her friend Chelsea smoke cigarettes behind the aerobic building

•  Dianne is feeling left out and goes to the med room to complain to her mom about the girls being “immature” 

• Petey talks about Mo being a fat whore to a group of girls and Mo starts to notice Matt

•  Braelyn and fellow counselor Chelsea take a secret trip to the local gas station to grab snacks

• Petey confronts Mo and gives her a note explaining how he still has feelings for her. 

•  Mo shares the note with her bunkmates, and they all corroborate the fact that Petey has been talking shit about her to everyone

•  Matt starts to get irritated at Petey running his mouth and tries to confront him, their counselors intervene

•  Braelyn gets called into the office for leaving camp for a snack run, she denies the allegations.  Tony later confronts Braelyn and she confesses to going

• Mo talks to Petey about the things he’s been saying, but he maintains that it was her who started it

•  Counselor Chelsea gets kicked out of camp, causing Braelyn to have a breakdown and try to leave

•  Dianne falls after being pulled up from a chair, she collapses and starts to sob. She is taken to the med room “I’ve fallen 3 times and twisted my ankle 4.” 

•  It’s Petey’s turn in the office. Tony calls him out on his gossiping which causes Petey to freak out and burst into tears. He claims that he’s innocent, this is intercut with him calling people fat and losers. “She’s a stoner. I’ve seen her on cocaine, I’ve seen her on heroin, I’ve seen her on shrooms.” [About Mo] He cries his way out of any real consequences 

•  Dianne complains about her bunkmates telling her she needs to shower after exercising. At the cabin, she asks again if she REALLY needs to shower and they confirm yes she does. After making a joke about her falling towel she cries and then goes out to find Mo

•  Mo comes in and explains to the girls that they need to stop being childish and have compassion for others. She takes off her shirt in solidarity with Dianne to show that they shouldn't be ashamed of their bodies. The girls apologize. Dianne doesn't shower that night

•  Some of the kids take a field trip to a roller rink and Petey gets in trouble with his new girlfriend Chelsea after some of her friends claim that he was flirting with another girl. He later confides in another girl that he is jealous of Matt and wants Mo back

• Camp elections begin. Matt, Petey, and Tracy all run for Camp President. Matt is shown to be projected to win, but Tracy ends up winning

• Braelyn is brought in again to Tony’s office. Due to neglecting her duties as jr counselor and not putting in any effort, she is demoted to camper. She begins to cry. After a phone call with her Father, she ends up leaving camp. 

• After a fling with another counselor, Mo and Matt are no longer together. However, they have a quick make-up and get back together

• Mo leaves camp early so she can help manage her school's football team. Everyone gives her a goodbye

• Color war begins with a helicopter dropping flyers to tell the campers which team they are on, gold or blue. Dianne chooses to not participate

• While collecting firewood the campers disturb a hive, which results in a majority of  campers having to be treated for bee stings

• Chelsea dumps Petey and wants to remain friends, neither is too upset about this

•  Blue team ends up winning Color war

• Petey writes another letter to Mo, apologizing for his actions and hoping that they can still be friends

At the end of the summer Dianne lost 16.5 pounds and can attend the local high school, she gained back half of her lost weight. Matt lost 33 pounds but gained it all back after returning home. Marisa lost 12  pounds. She and Matt lose touch after camp and break up. She maintained her weight loss and even became Homecoming Queen. Petey lost 27 pounds and maintained his exercise. He and Mo reconciled and started talking again. Braelyn never returned to camp. 

Fat Camp gives an intimate and cringy look into the lives of overweight teens at a difficult time in their lives. While it is debatable whether or not the camp actually helps kids,  what it does do successfully is capture a sliver of time in the early 2000s. This coupled with the ad breaks gives an intense sense of nostalgia.

Fat Camp 2006 without ads

Fat Camp with old ads

I don't know why I enjoyed this show so much but it gives me a lot of comfort and I hope whoever reads this will take the time to watch it. When I get to the sequel I will go into some of the controversies and rumors surrounding the camp :)