What’s UP with Summer: Understanding Why Weight Grows Faster in Summer for Teens and Kids
Official title: Etiology of Accelerated Weight Gain during Summer vs. School in Adolescents: What's UP (Undermining Prevention) with Summer 2
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11359582 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large study follows kids and adolescents to see why their weight tends to rise more during summer months than during the school year, with a focus on those from lower-income families.
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 | September 18, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $655,265 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK116665-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11359582 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children and adolescents who participate in summer programs or have variable routines between school and summer, particularly from lower-income backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not experience significant weight changes between seasons or do not participate in summer data collection may see little direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tracks the same children across school and summer periods to compare changes in BMI and related behaviors. It uses detailed daily diaries, 24-hour activity data, and measurements of height and weight to understand how summer routines influence weight gain. By following participants over multiple years, the study aims to reveal when and why weight gain happens and how lifestyle factors like activity, sleep, screen time, and diet contribute. The goal is to identify targets for preventing excessive weight gain during the summer so kids stay healthier year‑round.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform programs and policies to reduce summer weight gain and improve health for children and teens, especially those from low-income families.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows notable summer weight gain and within-person changes; this renewal builds on that approach with more diverse, longitudinal data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beets, Michael W — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Beets, Michael W
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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.