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

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

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

Methods

A total of 422 children from a low-income school district in South Carolina were recruited and randomly assigned to receive 8-10 weeks of free summer day camps or to experience summer as usual in 2021-2023. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated by dividing summer day camp cost by the difference between the intervention and control groups in changes in BMI z-scores from the start to end of summer. Increme

SUBMITTER: Chen BK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12766637 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature