(LB03-11-24) Examination of the Home Food and Physical Activity Environment Comparing the Summertime to School Year: Findings From the Project SWEAT Sub-study

Objectives: To examine the home food environment and physical activity (PA) environments during the summertime compared to the school year among racial minority families with elementary school age children.

Methods: Rising prekindergarten through fifth-grade children and their primary caregiver were recruited from two elementary schools located in low-income urban neighborhoods of Columbus, OH with a predominantly Black population. Home food environment was assessed with the Home Food Inventory (HFI) obesogenic survey (sum score, 0-71; higher score=more obesogenic environment). Home PA environment was assessed with the Family PA and Sedentary Environments Questionnaire and derived modeling (0-63), social support (0-42), reinforcement (0-21), family barriers (0-10), household rules (0-40), yard equipment availability (0-4), and activity equipment usage (0-49) variables (higher scores= positive PA environment, and sedentary equipment usage (0-49) (higher score=less positive PA environment). Data were collected at 3 time points: beginning of summer (T0); midsummer (T1); beginning of subsequent school year (T2). Paired t-tests were conducted comparing the home food and physical activity environments across time points (T0:T1; T0:T2; T1:T2).

Results: 62 children representing 39 families enrolled. Child mean age was 7.42±0.31; 51.61%(n=32) identified as female; 80.65%(n=50) identified as Black; and 69.35%(n=42) were from low-income households. The HFI obesogenic score was significantly greater during the summertime compared to the school year: 29.50±1.52vs.23.78±1.31 (T0:T2; p≤0.001) and 28.44±1.42vs.23.78±1.31 (T1:T2; p≤0.001), respectively. Significant differences in home PA environment were observed in that sedentary equipment usage and activity equipment usage were significantly greater during the summertime compared to the school year.

Conclusions: The home environment may have a significant impact on summertime health declines among children and should be considered for points of intervention in future research programs.

Funding Sources: US Department of Agriculture North Central Nutrition Education Center for Excellence