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School-based fitness changes are lost during the summer vacation.
Aaron L Carrel1, R Randall Clark, Susan Peterson
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital, 600 Highland Ave, Room H4-436, Madison, WI 53792, USA. alcarrel@wisc.edu
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|June 6, 2007
Summary
Childhood obesity interventions show promise during school but benefits are lost over summer break. Sustained fitness programs are crucial to maintain improvements in body fat, cardiovascular fitness, and insulin levels in overweight youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern, requiring effective interventions.
- School-based fitness programs can improve health markers in overweight children.
- The impact of extended breaks, like summer vacation, on intervention gains is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in body fat percentage, cardiovascular fitness, and insulin levels.
- To assess these changes during the 3-month summer break in overweight middle schoolers.
- To determine if health improvements from a school-based fitness program are maintained during summer.
Main Methods:
- Overweight middle school children participated in a school-based fitness program.
- Health metrics including body composition (dual x-ray absorptiometry), cardiovascular fitness (maximum oxygen consumption), and fasting insulin/glucose levels were measured.
- Changes were analyzed during the 3-month summer break following a 9-month intervention.
Main Results:
- Improvements in cardiovascular fitness, insulin levels, and body composition gained during the school year were lost over the summer break.
- Mean maximum oxygen consumption decreased by 3.2 mL/kg/min (P = .007).
- Mean fasting insulin levels increased by 44 pmol/L (P = .056), and body fat percentage increased by 1.3% (P = .02).
Conclusions:
- School-based fitness interventions are effective for promoting health in obese children.
- Health benefits achieved during the school year are not sustained during the summer break without continued intervention.
- Sustained, year-round programs are necessary to maintain health improvements in overweight youth.
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