Eating and activity habits of overweight children on weekdays and weekends

To determine whether eating, sedentary, and physical activity behaviors differ on weekdays and weekends in a sample of children who are overweight and obese.

Eighty-one children aged 6-9 years old who were overweight or obese and enrolled in a weight management program completed three-day food diaries and three-day Previous Day Physical Activity Recalls (PDPARs) for two weekdays and one weekend day. All data were obtained at baseline prior to intervention delivery.

Children consumed a greater percentage of calories from fat (t = 2.15, p = 0.04) and fewer fruits (t = 6.83, p < 0.001), vegetables (t = 2.91, p = 0.002), non-nutrient dense (NND) snack foods (t = 5.58, p < 0.001), and sweetened drinks (t = 2.91, p = 0.005) on weekends. Children watched more television (t = 5.25, p < 0.001), expended more energy (t = 4.37, p < 0.001), and spent a greater percentage of time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p < 0.001) on weekends compared to weekdays.

Findings demonstrate a number of differences in children's eating and activity habits on weekends and weekdays. They also suggest that attending to differences in food intake and activity habits on weekdays and weekends separately may help to identify periods of high risk, which could be modified with effective intervention approaches.

NCT00259324, NCT00200265.