Observational studyEvaluation and program planning2019
Examining the impact of a summer learning program on children's weight status and cardiorespiratory fitness: A natural experiment.
Observational study in Evaluation and program planning, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Impact of environmental interventions based on social programs on physical activity levels: A systematic review.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Examining adolescents' obesogenic behaviors on structured days: a systematic review and meta-analysis.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2022Pooled it
- Article
- Examining differences in parent-reported screen time from school to summer in children: an observational cohort study.BMC public health · 2026Observational
- Protocol for a randomized controlled dose response trial to combat accelerated summer BMI gain in children: The Determining the Optimal amount of Structured Environments (DOSE) study.Contemporary clinical trials · 2025Article
- Article
- Rethinking children's right to leisure during school holidays.Annals of leisure research · 2024Article
- Healthy Summer Learners: An explanatory mixed methods study and process evaluation.Evaluation and program planning · 2022Article
- The Immediate and Lasting Effects of Resident Summer Camp on Movement Behaviors Among Children.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2022Article
- Differences in the proportion of children meeting behavior guidelines between summer and school by socioeconomic status and race.Obesity science & practice · 2021Article
- Impact of a year-round school calendar on children's BMI and fitness: Final outcomes from a natural experiment.Pediatric obesity · 2021Article
- Children's moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on weekdays versus weekend days: a multi-country analysis.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2021Article
- Comprehensive use of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in pediatrics.Pediatric endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism · 2021Review
- The impact of summer vacation on children's obesogenic behaviors and body mass index: a natural experiment.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2020Observational
- The impact of summer programming on the obesogenic behaviors of children: behavioral outcomes from a quasi-experimental pilot trial.Pilot and feasibility studies · 2020Article
- The need for synergy between biological and behavioral approaches to address accelerated weight gain during the summer in children.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2019Article
- Interpersonal and Environmental Protective Factors and Their Associations With Children's Weight Status.Journal of primary care & community healthArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
This study examined the impact of an existing 7-week summer learning program on children's weight status and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).
methodsUsing an observational repeated measures within-subjects design, children's (N = 20 mean age = 6.35; 45% female; 80% African American) height, weight, and CRF (i.e., Fitnessgram PACER), were measured during the first and final week of the seven week program. Descriptive statistics were calculated for all variables. Median regression analysis examined estimated the differences in BMI zscore, overweight and obesity prevalence, and CRF during the first week (baseline) compared to the final week (outcome).
resultsOf those enrolled initially in the program, 77% attended for more than 4 weeks. When controlling for attendance and sex, no statistically significant changes were observed for, median zBMI (pre: 0.12, post: 0.11) or CRF (pre: 10, post: 13.5 PACER laps). All children except for one maintained the same weight status (e.g. normal weight, overweight) from baseline to outcome. A total of 12 participants increased or maintained the number of PACER laps completed, while 8 participants' PACER laps decreased.
conclusionThe results of this natural experiment provides preliminary evidence that participation in a structured summer program can potentially mitigate unhealthy weight gains and fitness loss over the summer for some children. Future studies with larger more representative samples are needed to establish the impact of structured summer programming on children's CRF and weight status.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.