A study on the effect of summer holidays lifestyles on the weight of 7/8 year old children

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to explore any weight changes that might occur during the summer holidays of 7 and 8 years old children. This study also tries to ascertain whether any changes in children's lifestyle occur during these holidays. It was carried out with a group of 54 children aged 7/8 years old attending a private school in Malta. Questionnaires were used together with height and weight measurements which were conducted in the beginning of June before the summer holidays and in October at the beginning of the scholastic year. Measurements have shown an increase in weight of the subjects from June to September. Although not a representative sample of this age group, this study has shown that the prevalence of obese children rose from 6.67% to 13.33% after summer. Based on these facts, there is scope for this study to be further developed into a study on a national scale. The children who took part are very aware of what types of food that constitutes bad nutrition and good nutrition. While many of the children said they eat breakfast, it emerges that the most favored breakfast is cereal, which may contain a lot of sugars and a high level of salts. This indicates the need for an awareness campaign, targeted at parents and children about the sugar content of different types of cereals. This study also shows that while children still like to eat what health authorities consider as junk food, like pizza and pastizzi, at the same time they are also aware that these should be eaten in moderation.