Changes in fitness and fatness in Australian schoolchildren during the summer holidays: fitness lost, fatness regained? A cohort study

BMC Public Health

Research

Mason Munzberg¹  Grant R. Tomkinson¹  Carol Maher¹  François Fraysse¹  Amanda Watson¹  Emily Eglitis¹  Tim Olds²  Aaron Miatke²  Dorothea Dumuid²  Rebecca Golley³ 

[1] Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, 5000, Adelaide, Australia;Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, 5000, Adelaide, Australia;Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, 3052, Parkville, Australia;Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, 5042, Bedford Park, Australia;

关键词: Shuttle run;    Child;    Summer;    Holiday;    Fitness;    Fatness;    Obesity;    Use of time;    Body Mass Index;    Socioeconomic status;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-023-17009-4

 received in 2023-07-01, accepted in 2023-10-17,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundEmerging evidence suggests that children’s fatness increases and fitness declines at a greater rate during the summer holiday period, compared with the school year. The aim of this study was to compare rates of change in fitness and fatness over the in-term and summer holiday periods among Australian schoolchildren. A secondary aim was to explore whether rates of change differed according to the child’s sex, socio-economic status (SES), pubertal status and weight status.MethodsChildren (n = 381) initially in Grade 4 (age 9) were recruited for this 2-year longitudinal study. Fatness (% body fat, BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio) and fitness (20-m shuttle run and standing broad jump) were measured at the start and end of two consecutive years. Rates of change were calculated for the two in-school periods (Grades 4 and 5) and for the summer holiday period. Rates of change in fatness and fitness between in-school and holiday periods were compared, and differences in rates of change according to sex, socio-economic status, and weight status were explored.ResultsDuring the holidays, percentage body fat increased at a greater rate (annualised rate of change [RoC]: +3.9 vs. Grade 4 and + 4.7 vs. Grade 5), and aerobic fitness declined at a greater rate (RoC − 4.7 vs. Grade 4 and − 4.4 vs. Grade 5), than during the in-school periods. There were no differences in rates of change for BMI z-score, waist-to-height ratio or standing broad jump. Body fatness increased faster in the holidays (relative to the in-school period) in children who are overweight and from low-SES families. Aerobic fitness declined more rapidly in the holidays in children who are overweight.ConclusionThis study highlights that during the summer holiday period, children experience greater increases in fatness and declines in fitness, with children who live with low-SES families and are overweight being more affected. The findings suggest the need for targeted interventions during this period to address these negative health trends.Trial registrationAustralia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, identifier ACTRN12618002008202. Retrospectively registered on 14 December 2018.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

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