A randomized clinical trial conducted by American scientists found that children who attended a free summer day camp experienced a significant reduction in body mass index compared to children who did not attend camp, whose body mass index increased over the same observation period. As reported in JAMA Pediatrics, the study was conducted among children from poor and low-income families.
Epidemiological studies show that the peak period for overweight and obesity in children occurs during the summer holidays. Furthermore, youth from marginalized groups (such as those from economically or socially disadvantaged families) are at increased risk of unhealthy increases in body mass index during the summer. One hypothesis explaining this pattern is that during the school year, children are constantly exposed to a structured environment (school), which encourages healthy behavior through environmental controls—mandatory physical activity and restrictions on high-calorie foods. Systematic reviews show that children do exhibit healthier behavior on school days compared to days without school.
Similar structured features during the summer can include day camps, where children spend 6-8 hours daily, five days a week. These camps provide adequate physical activity and a balanced diet, which can help children maintain a healthy body mass index.
A research team led by Michael Beets of the University of South Carolina conducted a randomized clinical trial to determine how attending an urban day camp affects the body mass index of children from low-income and low-income families. Children in the study group received free access to the urban camp for eight to ten weeks. Classes began at 7:00 a.m. and ended at 5:00 p.m., with three to four hours of physical activity per day and the remaining time devoted to excursions and intellectual pursuits. The children's diet consisted of breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.
A total of 260 children were randomly assigned to receive a free day camp voucher, while 248 children spent their summer as usual. The researchers found no significant demographic differences between the groups. Data analysis revealed that children in the control group experienced an average increase in their standardized body mass index (BMI) z-scores over the summer by 0.046. For children who spent their summer at city camps, this score decreased by 0.094. On average, an increase in the number of camp visits by one day per week resulted in a decrease in children's BMI z-scores by 0.018–0.034.
According to scientists, the widespread implementation of free urban summer camp programs could reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children from poor families. Future studies should replicate these findings in different regions and determine the optimal "dose" of such programs.
We previously reported that the habit of playing outdoors at 2.5 years of age was associated with a reduced risk of developing obesity at age seven.
