Kids Gain Weight Over Summer

I think there is more snacking going on as well as no Phys Ed classes, like you pointed out. Parents can't entertain kids that young because they are busy, and tv + food often passes for entertainment.

From the article link above:

He said the study seems to point to the need for parents to be more involved, as well as raising the idea of a longer school year and more after-school programs to keep children active.

So, until 20-25 years ago, summer break wasn't an issue? Parents were *more* involved during the summer break? Kids snacked less? Kids were more active during the summer?

I don't know about this one; for one thing, where is the data to compare weight gain now to weight gain years ago in summer months? Oh, that's right, we don't know the weight gain/loss pattern from 20 or 30 years ago for children, so we're assuming it is now a problem to gain in the summer...5 and 6 year olds have a tendancy to do that - they're growing!

Add to this, if we look at the weight gain patterns of other mammals, it is in the spring-to-fall season that animals gain weight when left to their own devices...availability of food is higher and fat stores go up to survive the coming winter months (or in warmer temps, cooler period where food is still less abundant naturally) - what makes us think humans are different and wouldn't gain in this period? Just because we diet going into summer and work hard to diet to get into a swimsuit doesn't mean that's our natural pattern for weight gain/loss.

Lastly, the undertone here is that schools are BETTER than parents at feeding children properly and keeping them active...HELLO - if they're so great at this, why the heck are all these programs and initiatives underway to try to resolve the school lunch program deficiencies and reinstitute physical education in schools?

To me this smacks of one more attempt to lengthen the school year, eliminate summer break and force the issue that kids need to be in after-school programs because they're better off their than at home. Now, some kids - that's true...but I really don't think it's the majority of them.

My sister and I always gained weight in the summer because we had lots of snacks and not a lot of structured activity. When you're in school, most classes prohibited eating during classtime, so we tended to eat a little less.

Since most schoools still provide junk food for lunch, I'm not buying this argument. I remember the last year I was in public school, 1987, pizza or burgers were the norm in the cafeteria. It would have been nice, if the mini-pizzas weren't so nasty-tasting. Gourmet, they weren't.

I must agree that schools do try to keep children healthier than some parents do. I did some volunteer work in an elementary school for two years and the one thing I noticed is how teachers pay close attention to students eating habits. In this particular school that I volunteered at the prinicipal and parents committee worked together on a letter which was sent out to all parents on what children weren't allow to bring as food for lunch. Some of the items on the list were chips, anything with chocolate, candy, fast food, and etc.I used to attend this particular elementray school 13 years ago and this rule applied back then as well and I think it's great.

So, I think if teachers are doing their job at keeping their students healthy, I think parents should work twice as hard at keeping their own children healthy. Schools might not have enough physical activity time in their weekly schedual but I think the summer is a great time for parents and children to work on staying fit together. Children should be running around playing, joining sports, walking with parents, and etc. And even though parents might not have the time to be involved in all sort activites with their children, I think the least they can do is control what their children are snacking on. This can help keep children fit. Afterall, the food in the refridgerator is put in there by the parents not by the children. Parents should teach children proper eating habits.

I think that childrens let them self go over the summer.I mean when they are out of school mostly the parents let their children eat what they want.Most of the time their eating three cheese burgers per day, two bags of chips ,and tons of ice cream.And when school comes back they will be back to normal size.So why dont we try to keep them fit over the summer so they stay at their same size.