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Children’s Weight Gain and Cardiovascular Fitness Loss over the Summer

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  • Timothy A. Brusseau

    (Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

  • Ryan D. Burns

    (Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of summer breaks on the body composition and cardiovascular fitness of elementary school children who participated in a multi-year school-based physical activity intervention. Participants were 404 children who had their height and weight measured and completed the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) during physical education classes at the beginning and end of the school year for three consecutive years. To examine the effects of time on health-related fitness data, general linear mixed effects models were employed. The results indicate that there was a trend toward an increase in body mass index (BMI) after the summer of 2015 ( p = 0.958), and a significant increase in BMI after the summer of 2016 compared to time point 1 ( p < 0.001). For PACER laps, there were trends toward decreases in PACER laps after the summers of 2015 ( p = 0.515) and 2016 ( p = 0.073). Summer breaks tended to attenuate the BMI and PACER lap improvements that were observed during the intervention. While school-based physical activity programming has had some successes in improving health-related fitness markers, the loss of these improvements over the summer is of concern to both practitioners and researchers. It is clear that additional efforts are needed to limit obesogenic behaviors during the summer months.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:12:p:2770-:d:188631
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. 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.
    2. Sallis, J.F. & McKenzie, T.L. & Alcaraz, J.E. & Kolody, B. & Faucette, N. & Hovell, M.F., 1997. "The effects of a 2-year physical education program (SPARK) on physical activity and fitness in elementary school students," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(8), pages 1328-1334.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chiaki Tanaka & John J. Reilly & Maki Tanaka & Shigeho Tanaka, 2018. "Changes in Weight, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity during the School Year and Summer Vacation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-19, May.

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