Kids Are More Likely To Gain Weight In The Summer Than Any Other Season

BabyGaga

By Helena Martin

Published Jun 18, 2019

Summer gives more access to snacks!

Via: MaxPixel.net

Researchers found that children are more likely to gain weight during the summer when there’s no school routine. The study was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and it also adds a layer of socioeconomic analysis to the results. Turns out that imposing a balanced diet in the household is needed even more during the summer months.

The study was conducted by collecting data through the summers of 2011 to 2017. The parents and children were participating in one of two community-based obesity prevention trials in Minnesota, and the children were around 10 years-old—25% of which were from food-insecure households. All the data used to estimate the results were gathered through dietary recall interviews the scientists conducted throughout the week.

What they found was the lack of a schedule or structure in the kids’ daily routines made it harder to follow a healthy diet. Access to snacks or high-sugar beverages are higher during the summer break, so kids are likely to binge on them. During the weekday, researchers found that the kids were getting more fruit and less sugar-sweetened drinks, and on the weekends it’s the opposite; the weekend behaviour applied to the daily routine during the summer break.

While the problem persisted for all the children, researchers found a larger discrepancy in the differences between school and home meals in lower-income households. During the school year, kids have more options for healthy snacks due to the access to the cafeteria. In the summer, they’re usually limited to what their families can provide, and sometimes the budget option is not the healthiest.

Due to the results of the study, experts advise parents to stick to a meal schedule instead of letting their kids eat whatever they want. Having a routine over the summer will help the kids stay on track instead of going astray when they don’t have to go to class. Being aware of what food your kids have access to will also help with the meal preparation and implementation of healthier eating habits. In order for them to continue choosing the options that are better for their health, the routine needs to persist even when there isn’t a bell to remind them of meal time.