Search

Objective Children who fail to meet activity, sleep, and screen‐time guidelines are at increased risk for obesity. Further, children who are Black are more likely to have obesity when compared to children who are White, and children from low‐income households are at increased risk for obesity when compared to children from higher‐income households. The objective of this study was to evaluate the proportion of days meeting obesogenic behavior guidelines during the school year compared to summer vacation by race and free/reduced priced lunch (FRPL) eligibility. Methods Mixed‐effects linear and logistic regressions estimated the proportion of days participants met activity, sleep, and screen‐time guidelines during summer and school by race and FRPL eligibility within an observational cohort sample. Results Children (n = 268, grades = K − 4, 44.1%FRPL, 59.0% Black) attending three schools participated. Children's activity, sleep, and screen‐time were collected during an average of 23 school days and 16 days during summer vacation. During school, both children who were White and eligible for FRPL met activity, sleep, and screen‐time guidelines on a greater proportion of days when compared to their Black and non‐eligible counterparts. Significant differences in changes from school to summer in the proportion of days children met activity (−6.2%, 95CI = −10.1%, −2.3%; OR = 0.7, 95CI = 0.6, 0.9) and sleep (7.6%, 95CI = 2.9%, 12.4%; OR = 2.1, 95CI = 1.4, 3.0) guidelines between children who were Black and White were observed. Differences in changes in activity (−8.5%, 95CI = −4.9%, −12.1%; OR = 1.5, 95CI = 1.3, 1.8) were observed between children eligible versus uneligible for FRPL. Conclusions Summer vacation may be an important time for targeting activity and screen‐time of children who are Black and/or eligible for FRPL.

Background COVID-19 school closures pose a threat to children's wellbeing, but no COVID-19-related studies have assessed children's behaviours over multiple years . Objective To examine children's obesogenic behaviours during spring and summer of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to previous data collected from the same children during the same calendar period in the 2 years prior. Methods Physical activity and sleep data were collected via Fitbit Charge-2 in 231 children (7-12 years) over 6 weeks during spring and summer over 3 years. Parents reported their child's screen time and dietary intake via a survey on 2-3 random days/week. Results Children's behaviours worsened at a greater rate following the pandemic onset compared to pre-pandemic trends. During pandemic spring, sedentary behaviour increased (+79 min; 95% CI = 60.6, 97.1) and MVPA decreased (-10 min, 95% CI = -18.2, -1.1) compared to change in previous springs (2018-2019). Sleep timing shifted later (+124 min; 95% CI = 112.9, 135.5). Screen time (+97 min, 95% CI = 79.0, 115.4) and dietary intake increased (healthy: +0.3 foods, 95% CI = 0.2, 0.5; unhealthy: +1.2 foods, 95% CI = 1.0, 1.5). Similar patterns were observed during summer. Conclusions Compared to pre-pandemic measures, children's PA, sedentary behaviour, sleep, screen time, and diet were adversely altered during the COVID-19 pandemic. This may ultimately exacerbate childhood obesity.

The Hass Avocado contains monounsaturated fats (oleic acid) and antioxidants (carotenoids, tocopherol). Cooked hamburger meat contains lipid peroxidation products formed during cooking. After inges...