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Weight‐Related Behaviors When Children Are in School Versus on Summer Breaks: Does Income Matter?
Author(s) -
Wang Y. Claire,
Vine Seanna,
Hsiao Amber,
Rundle Andrew,
Goldsmith Jeff
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12274
Subject(s) - poverty , demography , obesity , calorie , consumption (sociology) , low income , environmental health , childhood obesity , psychology , medicine , national health and nutrition examination survey , gerontology , overweight , socioeconomics , economics , population , social science , endocrinology , sociology , economic growth
BACKGROUND Income disparities in US youth in academic achievement appear to widen during the summer because of discontinued learning among children from lower‐income households. Little is known about whether behavioral risk factors for childhood obesity, such as diet and physical activity, also demonstrate a widening difference by income when children are out of school. METHODS Data from US children in grades 1‐12 in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003‐2008 (N = 6796) were used to estimate screen time, moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity ( MVPA ), and consumption of calories, vegetables, and added sugar. Linear regression was used to compare among children of households ≤185% and >185% poverty, as well as during the school year versus on school breaks. RESULTS Children surveyed during summer breaks consumed fewer vegetables (−0.2 cups/day) and more added sugar (+2.1 teaspoons/day), were more active (+4.6 MVPA minutes/day) and watched more television (+18 minutes/day). However, the nonsignificant interaction between school breaks and income indicated that lower‐income students were not “less healthy” than higher‐income students during the summer breaks. CONCLUSION Obesity‐related risk factors were more prevalent during the summer and among lower‐income youths, but the income disparity in these behaviors was not exacerbated when schools are not in session.