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A new study: Holidays make kids bigger – it's all about lack of structure
29.12.2023 08:50
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:21
The University of South Australia conducted a study called 'Life on Holidays' to understand how holidays affect children's fitness and fatness.
The study found that kids gain more body fat and experience a decline in fitness during school holidays compared to the school year.
Young children were found to be less active during holidays and spent more time on screens.
How it was discovered
The research is the first of its kind outside of the US.
In Australia, one in four children and teenagers are overweight or obese.
Globally, over 124 million children and adolescents are obese.
Promoting physical activities during holidays can help combat weight gain and declining fitness.
Children spend less time being active and more time on screens during holidays, which leads to increased body fat and lower fitness levels.
Lack of exercise increases the risk of health issues like cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes in the future.
Why it's important
The study suggests adopting summer camps and holiday programs as a solution to improve children's use of time during holidays.
Unstructured holidays with access to devices and unlimited snacking contribute to sedentary behavior.
Summer camps and holiday programs provide physical activities in a more structured way and can be a healthier option for children.
Prioritizing children's health is important, and relying on devices and TV as babysitters may not be worth the negative impact on their well-being.
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