The Cost Effectiveness of a Free Summer Day Camp Voucher Program to Prevent Summer Weight Gain among Children from Disadvantaged Households.

Introduction: Summer day camps (SDC) can mitigate summer weight gain by providing a structured daily environment that promotes healthy behaviors, but SDCs are often cost prohibitive to families with low-income. This study evaluated the cost effectiveness of providing free SDC to disadvantaged children to prevent summer weight gain.

Methods: 422 children from a low-income school district in South Carolina were recruited and randomly assigned to receive 8-10 weeks of free SDC or to experience summer as usual in 2021-2023.

Trajectories of Physical Activity and Screen Media Use in Toddlers and Related Parenting Practices: Child and Mother Physical Activity Study (CAMPAS).

Physical activity (PA) and screen media use are key behaviors for healthy development in early childhood. This study aimed to investigate 12-month trajectories of PA and screen time among toddlers and examine their associations with parenting practices. The Child and Mother PA Study (CAMPAS) recruited toddler-mother dyads in the US Chicago area from 2022-2024.

Initial Validation of the PATCH: an Open-Source Device Designed to Measure Energy Expenditure among Children Aged 3-8 Years.

Background: Wearable devices that measure energy expenditure are not designed for children. Therefore, we developed the PATCH (Platform for Accurate Tracking of Children's Health), an open-source device to measure children's energy expenditure using heartrate (HR) and acceleration. This study examines three models to estimate children's oxygen consumption using HR and acceleration compared to a criterion of indirect calorimetry.

Short-term association between hot nights and mortality: a multicountry analysis in 178 locations considering hourly ambient temperature.

Background: The rise in hot nights over recent decades and projections of further increases due to climate change underscores the critical need to understand their impact. This knowledge is essential for shaping public health strategies and guiding adaptation efforts. Despite their significance, research on the implications of hot nights remains limited.

The association between PM, greenness (NDVI) and road noise exposures and the academic performance of state school pupils in England: a National Pupil Database study.

Research suggests that exposure to air pollution, greenspace and noise may affect children's academic performance, however further large-scale, longitudinal evidence is needed. This study quantifies the relationship between PM and children's academic performance while considering the effects of greenness and road noise using the National Pupil Database. 1,048,167 children starting state school in England at ages 4-5 years in 2005 and 2006 were followed for 12 years.