Why Summer Is Obesity Season for Kids

The lazy, hazy days of summer can pose a hidden threat to kids’ health. (Photo: Photolyric/iStock)

No more pencils, no more books — and no more healthy eating and lifestyle habits, either.

That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at how kids’ health habits during the school year are affected by summer break. Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health found that on average, children of all ages rack up more screen time, consume more sugar, and eat fewer vegetables during the summer months than they do during the school year, according to the study, published in the June Journal of School Health.

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“It wasn’t surprising that kids consume more sugar in the summer, since it’s a time of sugary treats like ice cream,” Dr. Y. Claire Wang, co-director of the Mailman School’s Obesity Prevention Initiative and coauthor of the study, tells Yahoo Parenting.

“What did surprise me was how time in front of the TV screen increased, and that there was little change in physical activity levels for almost all of the kids studied.”

To conduct the study, researchers looked at a sample of 6,453 kids from first grade through high school who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2008. The study included kids of all income brackets, from below to above the poverty level.

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After comparing data from different times of the year, researchers found that in the summer, kids viewed TV or a computer an average of 20 minutes more per day and consumed about three ounces more sugar-sweetened beverages. Vegetable consumption went down too.

The only thing that didn’t really change was exercise levels: Students were physically active just five minutes more on average during the summer than they were during the school months. (The exception was for low-income high-school girls, who exercised less over the summer). So much for summer’s rep as a way more active time of swimming, playing, and running around outdoors.

The study’s purpose was to investigate whether behavioral risk factors for obesity become more common in the summer, and how household income played a role. Turns out that kids of all economic levels adopted more obesity-related behaviors in the summer months, says Wang. And though the lifestyle changes may not seem like much, in a country where one in six kids are obese, these changes pose a real danger.

So what can parents do to make sure summer doesn’t turn into obesity season for their offspring? “Look for creative ways to plan family time that’s active,” suggests Wang — such as going swimming, or visiting an air-conditioned museum if it’s too hot for kids to safely play outside.

Wang also recommends looking into community programs and day camps that provide the structure of a school day but are focused on having fun. That structure keeps kids busy, and little hands out of kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator.

And though you don’t want to deny kids the sweet treats that make summer such an indulgent time, try to limit the amount of junk food and sweetened drinks in your at home. At barbecues and festivals, balance the offerings so your kids get healthy foods, such as vegetables, as well.

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