Finding the best summer programs to prevent weight gain in children
Official title: Identifying the Ideal Dose of Structured Summer Programming for Mitigating Accelerated Summer BMI Gain
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11085234 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how organized summer activities for kids aged 5 to 12 can help keep them from gaining too much weight during the summer, so parents and community groups can find better ways to keep children healthy and active when school is out.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $568,053 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK133248-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085234 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 5 to 12 who are at risk of weight gain during the summer months.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not at risk of weight gain or who do not participate in summer programming may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how structured summer programming can help prevent children aged 5 to 12 from gaining excess weight during the summer months. The study is based on the Structured Days Hypothesis, which suggests that organized activities supervised by adults can reduce unhealthy behaviors that lead to weight gain. By analyzing existing summer day camps, the research aims to determine the optimal amount of structured programming needed to mitigate accelerated BMI gain in children. The findings could provide valuable insights for parents and community organizations looking to support healthier summer experiences for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective summer programming that helps children maintain a healthy weight during the summer.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary studies have shown that structured summer programming can lead to healthier behaviors and less weight gain, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weaver, Robert G — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Weaver, Robert G
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.