Holiday Weight Gain Among Children
Author Information
Author(s): Branscum Paul, Kaye Gail, Succop Paul, Sharma Manoj
Primary Institution: The University of Cincinnati
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate gains in growth among elementary children during the holiday season and compare differences by gender and weight status.
Conclusion
The holiday period may be an important time to target children, especially those who are already overweight and obese.
Supporting Evidence
- Children gained an average of 0.56 kg and grew 0.82 cm during the holiday break.
- Overweight and obese children gained significantly more weight and BMI units compared to normal weight children.
- The average BMI-% slightly decreased by 0.4% during the holiday period.
Takeaway
Kids might grow a little taller and gain some weight during the holidays, but overweight kids gain more than normal weight kids.
Methodology
Children's height and weight were measured before and after their holiday break, and BMI was evaluated using repeated measures ANCOVA.
Potential Biases
The study may not generalize well due to the homogeneity of the sample and environmental factors affecting weight gain.
Limitations
The study's sample was limited to children living in a Midwestern city, which may not represent other geographical areas.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of 91 children, with 54% boys and 46% girls, average age 9.18 years, including 45% Caucasian, 39% African American, and 6% Hispanic.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.007
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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