A summer-long "boot camp" is among the latest suggestions for tackling Scotland's childhood obesity crisis.

In a report filed to Scottish Parliament's health and social care inquiry, NHS Health Scotland has recommended a "two to six-week" state-funded residency for obese children.

During the camp, they would be provided with nutritional education and physical activity.

The report also suggests a "portfolio of preventative measures" such as "increased efforts from industry and civil society".

Similar facilities controversially branded "fat camps" in America and continental Europe have received criticism for delivering an expensive and short-term solution to a problem that should be tackled in the home.

Privately-run boot camps, or weight loss camps, run for a period of around six weeks over the summer months.

Children live and work with their peers at locations often miles away from home, at an average rate of $1000 per week - though some cost more.

On a typical day, children are woken early and take part in a range of physical activities.

Some are high intensity workouts like aerobics, running and tennis, while others are hands-on activities such as crafts, cookery classes and drama.

Campers consume about 1500 calories a day during regimented eating hours, which includes snack times.

Many companies have follow-up programmes to monitor weight loss after camp, although statistics are notoriously lacking.

Some offer treatment programmes for childhood obesity, diabetes, food addiction and binge eating, which includes education and counselling.

The boot camp industry in American was growing significantly by 2005, with four camps opening in 2004 alone.

Highly rated camps in America are those that advertise a less militant, education-based approach to weigh loss - Camp Jump Start, New Image Camps, Wellspring Camps (USA and UK) and Camp Shane.

The first NHS-funded weight loss camp in the UK was the Carnegie International Camp near Leeds, which launched in 2008 by health lecturer Paul Gately.

Children were given a balanced diet, taught about portion sizes, nutrition and healthy food choices. They also took part in social activities with discos, day trips and talent nights, as well as clubs including photography and performing arts.

At Morelife UK camps, where 5 - 10% of attendees are returners, children on average are said to lose a stone over a period of five weeks.

Since launch in 1999 the company has worked with 1300 children in the UK.

In the US, obesity disproportionately affects children from low-income families yet the "treatment" comes at a price only affordable to those with thousands to spare.

Thousands of children as young as seven are able to attend weight loss camps in the US and continue programmes into their early 20s.

Some parents hope camps will be a place where their children will make new friends.

Bonnie Werth told the New York Times she sent her 12-year-old to Camp Shane in Ferndale because she "wanted her to be around other kids with the same problems" after a spate of bullying.

At the time it was reported that of the 1000 children attending New Image camps across three American states, more than half were repeat customers.

The American Camping Association said while the experience may not have been about "losing the weight specifically" children were learning skills they could use "20 years down the road".

Meanwhile in the UK, demand for boot camps among parents continues to rise.

The Carnegie International Camp was so popular in 2010 it received 1500 enquiries from parents but was only able to accommodate 150 children.

Earlier this year a mother from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, said she sent her daughter to a weight loss camp twice - paid for by Rotherham City Council - because she was unable to encourage better eating habits.

Beverly Deakin, 41, said her own weight had "fluctuated dramatically" and thather Destiny started comfort eating following the death of her grandmother.

Modern weight loss camps have made efforts to move away from the stigma that children are shamed for their weight and must take part in exercise against their will.

Many American and European facilities promote inclusion, education and body confidence, encouraging visitors to believe that long-term change is possible.

The level of physical activity for Scotland's children has scored an F grade in a recent study, putting it among the worst in the world and experts admit summer camps could bring about small changes.

But unless habits change in the home when the six-week stint is over, children return to old temptations, peer pressure and reduced motivation to exercise.

Scotland's health experts have called NHS Health Scotland's suggestion to launch boot camps a "downstream fix", lacking evidence on "long-term results".

"It's a testament to our failure that we've got this point," said Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at Glasgow University.

"The overall evidence base for these things is limited. If you move a child to a different environment where there is better quality food, away from temptations, they will inevitably lose weight. The problem is this is short term."

He added: "Children don't need to be super athletes to lose weight and making them run is almost like punishment. The biggest cause of obesity in Scotland is not inactivity, it's calorie intake.

"Children need to have their taste buds almost retrained to accept better quality food like brown bread over white, fruit and vegetables, less crisps, smaller portions and a variety of other snacks.

"Parents need to be taught at the same time so that when child comes back, they are all moving in the same direction."

NHS Health Scotland recommends state-run facilities, opening programmes up to low-income families whose children are often most at risk of obesity.

Rather than implement "expensive" camps, Prof Sattar suggests the government would be far better off spending money on tackling the "surplus of high density foods everywhere".

He said: "We've started to talk about a sugar tax which won't solve anything. Similarly camps will have a small effect but not solve obesity on its own by any means.

"We need to look at the calorie content of food, make fast food outlets make healthier choices with a maximum number of calories so that the unhealthy choices become more expensive.

"We need re-pricing to help people without them making a conscious effort."