Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39425115›Full record

SynthesisThe international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity2024

Health effects of children's summer holiday programs: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Emily Eglitis, Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Rosa Virgara, Amanda Machell, Mandy Richardson, Kylie Brannelly, Aniella Grant, Jessica Gray, Terri Wilkinson and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Free summer programming on elementary-aged children's food and beverage consumption: a randomized clinical trial.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025
    Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Observational
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Emily EglitisAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia. emily.eglitis@mymail.unisa.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0586-8047
Ben SinghAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Timothy OldsAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Rosa VirgaraAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Amanda MachellAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Mandy RichardsonDepartment for Education, Government of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Kylie BrannellyNational Outside School Hours Services Alliance, Woodend, Australia.
Aniella GrantAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Jessica GrayAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Terri WilkinsonAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Zoe RixAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Grant R TomkinsonAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
Carol MaherAlliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundUnfavourable changes occur in children's health behaviours and outcomes during the summer holidays. This systematic review aimed to determine the effectiveness of summer holiday programs in mitigating these changes.

methodsSix databases (MEDLINE, JBI, PsychINFO, Embase, ERIC and Scopus) were systematically searched for experimental controlled studies that investigated programs of at least 5 days' duration conducted exclusively during the summer holiday period on school-aged children (5-18 years). Primary outcomes were moderate-vigorous physical activity and energy intake. Secondary outcomes were sedentary behavior, diet quality, adiposity, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Risk of Bias was assessed using the PEDro tool. Effect sizes were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis with narrative synthesis of effects by student or program characteristics.

resultsTen studies (two randomised controlled trials, and eight non-randomised controlled trials) involving 1,446 participants were included. Summer programs had a significant moderate effect on reducing sedentary behaviour (g= -0.59, 95%CI= -1.16, -0.03) and significant small effects on improving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (g = 0.35, 95%CI = 0.02, 0.67) and adiposity (g= -0.25, 95% CI = -0.39, -0.10). No significant change was detected for cardiorespiratory fitness (g = 0.43, 95%CI= -0.32, 1.17), energy intake (g= -0.06, 95% CI -2.33, 2.22), or diet quality (g = 0.20, 95%CI= -0.43, 0.83). Summer program effectiveness did not appear to differ by child sociodemographic or program characteristics. Concerns regarding bias and high heterogeneity impacted results.

conclusionsSummer programs show potential in promoting healthier movement behaviours in children and supporting healthy body weight during the summer months. Although evidence from the included studies has limitations, these programs produced small to moderate effect sizes and present promising health intervention opportunities for children. Future research with more rigorous study designs and comprehensive reporting is needed to confirm these findings and better understand the impact of summer programs on children's health. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42023409795.

Indexed as

ExerciseHealth PromotionHolidaysSeasonsSedentary BehaviorAdiposityAdolescentCardiorespiratory FitnessChildChild BehaviorChild, PreschoolDietEnergy IntakeHealth BehaviorHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicChild healthHealth equityHolidaysObesityPhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID39425115
PMCPMC11488216

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.