WASHINGTON — Summer is fast approaching, which means no school and lots of free time. That’s the perfect storm for overweight and obese children to gain more pounds, says Lean Plate Club blogger Sally Squires.
About 17 percent of kids ages 2 to 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s roughly 13 million children nationwide, the data show.
Obesity at such a young age means an increased risk for host of weight-related illnesses, including Type 2 diabetes, premature heart disease, liver disease and more.
Studies show children who are overweight are known to put on more pounds in the summer, especially if they are already overweight or obese.
In 2014, Harvard School of Public Health researchers analyzed seven studies involving about 10,000 children. Six of the seven studies found that weight gain accelerated during the summer compared with the school year. The findings were even worse among black and Hispanic children.
There are a lot of theories about this and no real answers yet, Squires said. Researchers think that when kids aren’t in school, they’re less physically active. They also might have less adult supervision, so when left to their own devices, they may not eat as healthfully.
There are unstructured days, lots of boredom and possibly unstructured sleep. They also have less access to healthy meals than they would get at school.
So, what can be done to help prevent this trend? Make sure children have access to safe, physical activity during the summer, Squires said. That can be difficult for low-income children, since their parents might not be able to afford to send them to camp.
Children also need access to healthy food, Squires said. Many school districts are now providing food year-round to kids. Summer parks and recreation facilities can be leveraged.
Sleep is very important as well. A Massachusetts General Hospital study of 1,000 kids found that those with the lowest sleep scores had the highest levels of all body measurements, which reflects obesity.
The lower sleep scores were more common in homes with lower incomes, less maternal education, and among racial and ethnic minorities.
Parents need to set a consistent bedtime for their children, limit caffeinated beverages late in the day, cut out high-tech distractions in a child’s bedroom and help kids be active and eat right, Squires said.
