A national study in the United States has revealed that school students in the elementary grades are at an increased risk of gaining excessive weight during the summer. The research claims that children are at a far greater risk of obesity in the summer that at any other time.

According to the New York Times, more than 18,000 kindergarten kids were involved in the study. The children were weighed in early fall and again in late spring between 2010 and 2013. The prevalence of obesity reportedly increased from 23 percent to 28 percent during the period of weight monitoring.

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In the study, which was highlighted in the Wiley Online Library, the researchers suggested that the percentage of the prevalence of obesity grew from 8.9 percent to 11.5 percent. The most startling revelation was that the most amount of weight gain took place over the summer break while the prevalence of obesity was not observed during the school year.

The lead author of the study Prof. Paul von Hippel said very little progress was seen in obesity prevention, even after the implementation of school-based fitness program. Prof Hippel, who works at the University of Texas, was referring to popular soda bans and reformulation of cafeteria food and attention to curriculums based on nutrition.

According to Prof Hippel, the family and the home is where the problem should be addressed. He suggests that schools would not be able to contribute as much to the solution as proper family education on health and fitness program. Furthermore, he said summer fitness program needs to be supported.

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