Why holidays make kids fat
SCHOOL holidays are being blamed for the nation’s childhood obesity epidemic and experts say the six-week summer holiday needs to be shortened to combat the problem.
Research shows children on the break will sleep 40 minutes longer, spend 60 minutes more per day in front of screens, are likely to eat more junk food, expend 5 per cent less energy and perform 15 fewer minutes of vigorous physical activity than when at school.
The bad habits cause them to gain weight over the holiday period and even though they return to a more active lifestyle when school returns, they never fully lose all the weight they gained during the break.
But Geelong father Tim Upton says more time in school is not the answer.
His grade 1 daughter Amelia is one of millions of Australian schoolchildren currently on holidays. But the six-yearold spends her school holidays training hard with her Muay Thai coach — unlike other Aussie kids, according to University of South Australia Professor Tim Olds.
“Across a 10-week holiday period, this difference, uncompensated by dietary adjustment, would equate to an extra kilogram of body fat,” Prof Olds said.
One in four Australian children are already overweight or obese, setting them up for a lifetime of health problems. Research suggests most of the extra weight is stacked on during school holidays.
The school holiday weight gain phenomenon is even more of a problem for already overweight children and those from poorer households.
Mr Upton said cutting the school holidays wasn’t the only solution to the problem of childhood obesity.
“I reckon it really stems down to the parents who probably just need to be a little more proactive in getting their kids moving, rather than cutting the school holidays,” he said.
“Plan activities for them before the school holidays come round, organise the sport early or even just encourage them to get outside.”
He and his wife ensure all four of their children’s screen time at home is restricted and the kids are more likely to be found on their bikes than on iPads.
Over the year, children spend 15 per cent of their time at school and 25 per cent of their time on school holidays, Prof Olds said.
“The bottom line is if it is confirmed in Australia that the home environment is toxic for children the more time they spend at school the better” Prof Olds said.
“Schools are really doing a good job.”
Obesity Policy Coalition spokeswoman Jane Martin isn’t sure the summer school holidays should be shortened, but says the research pointed to the importance of the school environment in combating obesity.
“I know as a parent you treat kids a bit more on holidays and if you are working during the period it can be stressful and you take shortcuts and slip into fast food because you are out of your routine,” she said.