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Kids gain weight during summer break
The CP Wire (Wed 28 Feb 2007 Byline: BY RICK CALLAHAN) writes that an American study found that five- and six-year-olds gained more weight over the summer than during the school year, casting doubt on the assumption that kids are more active during summer vacation. The findings don't reveal what's behind the out-of-school weight gain, but the researchers speculate it's because the summer months lack the structure of the school year with all its activities and daily comings and goings. Doug Downey, an Ohio State University sociologist who co-authored the study, said that for many youngsters, the lazy days of summer may offer plenty of free time to eat snacks and lounge about watching TV or playing video games. 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. The study will appear in the April issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
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