Back to School and 40 Pounds Lighter

HOUSTON - On this first week back to school, one Houston youngster headed back to the books for a new school year with a new body.

So what's the skinny? How did Isabelle Finegold manage to lose that much weight?

The eighth grader went to the 6-week Wellspring Weight Loss Camp over the summer in San Marcos, TX.

The 13-year-old used to weigh 215 pounds. She tried over and over to lose weight and failed.

Until now.

"I really didn't like myself. I was made fun of a lot. So it was really hard" Finegold says.

What the teenager learned at camp helped open the door to a whole new lifestyle.

"I learned different ways to exercise and healthy eating can be easy when you know what to cook."

Part of the program requires parents to attend the camp for 3 days.

"I lost 24 pounds. They taught me about cooking, about monitoring, about portion control and exercise," Isabelle's mom, Susanne Brody, says.

When mother and daughter returned home with new bodies, it was time to give the refrigerator and pantry makeovers as well.

"Every single item. I emptied the whole house out. Got rid of every product I had in the house," Brody says.

Now their home is full of no or low-fat foods.

"You have to eat 12 grams of fat or less per day to lose weight and 20 grams to maintain," Finegold says.

The two are also exercising regularly.

"At least 10,000 steps a day," says Finegold. "I feel accomplished and a lot happier with myself".

The 13-year-old is proud of her new body and that she's doing her part to help stop America's growing obesity problem.