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The effect of school on overweight in childhood: Gain in body mass index during the school year and during summer vacation

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  • Von Hippel, P.T.
  • Powell, B.
  • Downey, D.B.
  • Rowland, N.J.

Abstract

Objectives. To determine whether school or nonschool environments contribute more to childhood overweight, we compared children's gains in body mass index (BMI) when school is in session (during the kindergarten and first-grade school years) with their gains in BMI when school is out (during summer vacation). Methods. The BMIs of 5380 children in 310 schools were measured as part of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Cohort. We used these measurements to estimate BMI gain rates during kindergarten, summer, and first grade. Results. Growth in BMI was typically faster and more variable during summer vacation than during the kindergarten and first-grade school years. The difference between school and summer gain rates was especially large for 3 at-risk subgroups: Black children, Hispanic children, and children who were already overweight at the beginning of kindergarten. Conclusions. Although a school's diet and exercise policies may be less than ideal, it appears that early school environments contribute less to overweight than do nonschool environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Von Hippel, P.T. & Powell, B. & Downey, D.B. & Rowland, N.J., 2007. "The effect of school on overweight in childhood: Gain in body mass index during the school year and during summer vacation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(4), pages 696-702.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2005.080754_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.080754
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    Cited by:

    1. Levasseur, Pierre, 2022. "School starting age and nutritional outcomes: Evidence from Brazil," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    2. Jo, Young, 2014. "What money can buy: Family income and childhood obesity," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 1-12.
    3. Manan Roy & Daniel Millimet & Rusty Tchernis, 2012. "Federal nutrition programs and childhood obesity: inside the black box," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-38, March.
    4. Daniel L. Millimet & Rusty Tchernis & Muna Husain, 2010. "School Nutrition Programs and the Incidence of Childhood Obesity," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 45(3).
    5. Rebecca Miles & Yuxia Wang & Suzanne Bennett Johnson, 2018. "Neighborhood Built and Social Environments and Change in Weight Status over the Summer in Low-Income Elementary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, May.
    6. Hunt, Ethan T. & Whitfield, Michelle L. & Brazendale, Keith & Beets, Michael W. & Weaver, R. Glenn, 2019. "Examining the impact of a summer learning program on children’s weight status and cardiorespiratory fitness: A natural experiment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 84-90.
    7. Anderson, Patricia M. & Butcher, Kristin F. & Cascio, Elizabeth U. & Schanzenbach, Diane Whitmore, 2011. "Is being in school better? The impact of school on children's BMI when starting age is endogenous," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 977-986.
    8. von Klinggraeff, Lauren & Dugger, Roddrick & Brazendale, Keith & Hunt, Ethan T. & Moore, Justin B. & Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle & Vogler, Kenneth & Beets, Michael W. & Armstrong, Bridget & Weaver, R. , 2022. "Healthy Summer Learners: An explanatory mixed methods study and process evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    9. Amanda E. Staiano & Stephanie T. Broyles & Peter T. Katzmarzyk, 2015. "School Term vs. School Holiday: Associations with Children’s Physical Activity, Screen-Time, Diet and Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-10, July.
    10. Chang, Chaeyoung & Jung, Haeil, 2017. "The role of formal schooling on weight in young children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1-12.
    11. Ethan T. Hunt & Bridget Armstrong & Brie M. Turner-McGrievy & Michael W. Beets & Robert G. Weaver, 2021. "Differences by School Location in Summer and School Monthly Weight Change: Findings from a Nationally Representative Sample," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-12, November.
    12. Laura C. Hopkins & Amy R. Sharn & Daniel Remley & Heather Schier & Regan Olak & Dorsena Drakeford & Cara Pannell & Carolyn Gunther, 2021. "Caregiver Perceptions of Environmental Facilitators and Barriers to Healthy Eating and Active Living during the Summer: Results from the Project SWEAT Sub-Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    13. Martin, Molly A. & Frisco, Michelle L. & Nau, Claudia & Burnett, Kristin, 2012. "Social stratification and adolescent overweight in the United States: How income and educational resources matter across families and schools," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(4), pages 597-606.
    14. Timothy A. Brusseau & Ryan D. Burns, 2018. "Children’s Weight Gain and Cardiovascular Fitness Loss over the Summer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-8, December.
    15. Rachana Bhatt, 2014. "Timing is Everything: The Impact of School Lunch Length on Children's Body Weight," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 80(3), pages 656-676, January.
    16. Andrew James Williams & Katrina M Wyatt & Craig A Williams & Stuart Logan & William E Henley, 2015. "Exploring the Potential of a School Impact on Pupil Weight Status: Exploratory Factor Analysis and Repeat Cross-Sectional Study of the National Child Measurement Programme," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, December.
    17. Gopalan, Maithreyi & Lombardi, Caitlin McPherran & Bullinger, Lindsey Rose, 2022. "Effects of parental public health insurance eligibility on parent and child health outcomes," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).

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