Weight‐Related Behaviors When Children Are in School Versus on Summer Breaks: Does Income Matter?

Wang, Y. Claire; Vine, Seanna; Hsiao, Amber; Rundle, Andrew; Goldsmith, Jeff

doi:10.1111/josh.12274

Cited by 90 publications

(112 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…While using direct, valid observation methods, the authors acknowledged their inability to comment on foods consumed within the home environment. Our findings are also encouraging in light of recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, which demonstrates poorer diets (ie, more sugar and less fruit and vegetables) during summer breaks when compared to children's diets during school terms …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

“…As well as school holiday food poverty, the quality of children's diets is also an area of concern—and these concerns are not limited to the United Kingdom. Findings from a large US study showed that children generally consumed more sugary beverages and fewer vegetables during school holidays, with findings consistent across all ages and household income levels . Limited research has attempted to deduce whether school food policies and practices are influential on children's overall eating patterns outside of the school environment …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Use of the School Setting During the Summer Holidays: Mixed‐Methods Evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales

Morgan

McConnon

Godwin

et al. 2019

Journal of School Health

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OBJECTIVE School summer holiday clubs in deprived areas of Wales were evaluated to examine opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity and explore delivery processes. METHODS Ten Food and Fun clubs participated in 2016. Quantitative data (child and parent surveys; N = 196, N = 84) assessed the opportunity to provide children with breakfast and lunch. A sub‐sample of children wore an accelerometer (N = 41) to evaluate the opportunity for achieving 1‐hour of moderate to vigorous activity (MVPA) at club. Features of successful club delivery were identified through; focus groups (child and parent; N = 74, N = 69) and interviews (staff/volunteer; N = 32). RESULTS Opportunities for healthy eating were delivered with high fidelity: 86% of children reported breakfast consumption and 75% eating a healthy lunch. On club days, children reported consuming fewer sugary snacks (66%), fewer sugary drinks (81%), and more fruits and vegetables (67%). About 71% of children achieved the recommended MVPA at club, with children engaging in more MVPA (+17 minutes/day, p < .01) on average compared to non‐club days. Successful delivery processes were: use of school facilities and staff; flexible partnership‐working; and whole family involvement. CONCLUSIONS Schools appear to provide a suitable setting for the delivery of healthy eating and physical activity opportunities during school summer holidays.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 71%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the School Setting During the Summer Holidays: Mixed‐Methods Evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales

Morgan

McConnon

Godwin

et al. 2019

Journal of School Health

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“…Investigations into the causal factors associated with the accelerated weight gain and loss in CRF during summer are limited and report mixed findings [13, 18, 19]. Studies report that children are more active [19], while others report they are less active during summer compared to school [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies report that children are more active [19], while others report they are less active during summer compared to school [13]. Studies report children have higher screen time during summer compared to school [18, 20], have less favorable diets or similar dietary intake during summer compared to school [13, 19], and sleep either the same amount [18] or slightly less [21] during summer compared to school. These studies were limited by study-design (e.g., between-subjects), definitions of “summer” (e.g., summer, winter, and holiday break data combined), obesogenic behavior assessment (e.g., self-report measures), and/or sample size (e.g., repeated measures on 14 children).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding differences between summer vs. school obesogenic behaviors of children: the structured days hypothesis

Brazendale

Beets

Weaver

et al. 2017

Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act

561

463

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BackgroundAlthough the scientific community has acknowledged modest improvements can be made to weight status and obesogenic behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sedentary/screen time, diet, and sleep) during the school year, studies suggests improvements are erased as elementary-age children are released to summer vacation. Emerging evidence shows children return to school after summer vacation displaying accelerated weight gain compared to the weight gained occurring during the school year. Understanding how summer days differ from when children are in school is, therefore, essential.DiscussionThere is limited evidence on the etiology of accelerated weight gain during summer, with few studies comparing obesogenic behaviors on the same children during school and summer. For many children, summer days may be analogous to weekend days throughout the school year. Weekend days are often limited in consistent and formal structure, and thus differ from school days where segmented, pre-planned, restrictive, and compulsory components exist that shape obesogenic behaviors. The authors hypothesize that obesogenic behaviors are beneficially regulated when children are exposed to a structured day (i.e., school weekday) compared to what commonly occurs during summer. This is referred to as the ‘Structured Days Hypothesis’ (SDH). To illustrate how the SDH operates, this study examines empirical data that compares weekend day (less-structured) versus weekday (structured) obesogenic behaviors in U.S. elementary school-aged children. From 190 studies, 155 (~80%) demonstrate elementary-aged children’s obesogenic behaviors are more unfavorable during weekend days compared to weekdays.ConclusionIn light of the SDH, consistent evidence demonstrates the structured environment of weekdays may help to protect children by regulating obesogenic behaviors, most likely through compulsory physical activity opportunities, restricting caloric intake, reducing screen time occasions, and regulating sleep schedules. Summer is emerging as the critical period where childhood obesity prevention efforts need to be focused. The SDH can help researchers understand the drivers of obesogenic behaviors during summer and lead to innovative intervention development.

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“…Currently, only a handful of studies have examined differences in children's obesogenic behaviors during summer versus school . One cross‐sectional study reported children were more physically active and had higher TV viewing during school holidays compared to school, with no reported dietary or sleep differences .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School: A Within‐Person Comparison

Brazendale

Beets

Turner‐McGrievy

et al. 2018

Journal of School Health

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BACKGROUND: Evidence consistently shows children in the United States gain 3 to 5 times more weight during summer vacation (∼2.5 months) compared to the 9-month school year. The purpose of this study is to examine within-child differences in 4 obesogenic behaviors (physical activity [PA], sedentary/screen-time, diet, and sleep) during school versus summer. METHODS:We used a repeated-measures within-subjects design. Children (N = 30 mean age = 8.2 years; 57% female; 37% overweight/obese; 100% African American) wore accelerometers on the nondominant wrist for 24 hr/d over 9 consecutive days during school and summer of 2016 to capture PA, sedentary time, and sleep. Parents completed a daily diary to report bed/wake times, diet, and screen-time of their child each day. Mixed-effect models compared summer and school behaviors. RESULTS:Children spent more time sedentary (69% vs 67% of wake wear time), less time in light PA (25% vs 23% of wake wear time), had higher screen-time (242 vs 123 minutes/day), slept longer (428 vs 413 minutes/night), and consumed more sugar-based foods (6 days vs 2.5 days/week) and fruit (7 days vs 4.7 days/week) during summer compared to school (p < .05). CONCLUSION:Initial evidence suggests children are displaying multiple unfavorable obesogenic behaviors during summer compared to school that may contribute to accelerated weight gain during summer.

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Weight‐Related Behaviors When Children Are in School Versus on Summer Breaks: Does Income Matter?

Abstract: Obesity-related risk factors were more prevalent during the summer and among lower-income youths, but the income disparity in these behaviors was not exacerbated when schools are not in session.

Cited by 90 publications

References 37 publications

Use of the School Setting During the Summer Holidays: Mixed‐Methods Evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales

Use of the School Setting During the Summer Holidays: Mixed‐Methods Evaluation of Food and Fun Clubs in Wales

Understanding differences between summer vs. school obesogenic behaviors of children: the structured days hypothesis

Children's Obesogenic Behaviors During Summer Versus School: A Within‐Person Comparison

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