School uniforms can make parents’ lives easier. But can they negatively impact kids’ health?

A study published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science suggests that school uniform policies could serve as a barrier to children getting daily physical activity.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge in the U.K. analyzed the physical activity data from more than one million young people between 5 and 17 years old in 135 countries via an online survey.

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They found that in countries where school uniforms are more prevalent, fewer kids get an average of 60 minutes of daily physical activity, according to a press release from the university.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an average of 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity activity per day for youth between 5 and 17 years old.

In countries where a majority of schools required uniforms, 16% of students met that threshold, the study found.

In countries where uniforms were not as prevalent, 19.5% of students got the recommended amount of activity.

“Social norms and expectations tend to influence what they feel they can do in these clothes.”

Female students were found to get less exercise than males, the study found.

“Girls might feel less confident about doing things like cartwheels and tumbles in the playground, or riding a bike on a windy day, if they are wearing a skirt or dress,” said senior author Dr. Esther van Sluijs, MRC investigator, in the release. 

“Social norms and expectations tend to influence what they feel they can do in these clothes. Unfortunately, when it comes to promoting physical health, that’s a problem.”

In countries where school uniforms are more prevalent, fewer kids get an average of 60 minutes of daily physical activity, a new study has found. (iStock)

While the study established an association, the researchers noted that “causation cannot be inferred” between the uniforms and the reduced activity.

Smaller studies in the past have suggested this effect.

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Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for further research into a possible link between uniforms and more sedentary behavior.

“We now need more information to build on these findings, considering factors like how long students wear their uniforms for after school, whether this varies depending on their background, and how broader gendered clothing norms may impact their activity,” said Dr. Mairead Ryan, a researcher at the Faculty of Education and Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, in the release.

Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for further research into a possible link between uniforms and more sedentary behavior. (iStock)

The goal is not to ban uniforms altogether, she said.

“School communities could consider design, and whether specific characteristics of a uniform might either encourage or restrict any opportunities for physical activity across the day,” suggested Ryan.

“Working together for the betterment of children both physically and academically is the goal, at both home and school.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the Cambridge researchers requesting additional comment.

Dr. Nadia Teymoorian, a family therapist from the Moment of Clarity Health Center in California, was not involved in the study but offered her reaction. 

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School uniforms can offer some benefits for families, she noted — primarily a decrease in social bullying, reduced costs for parents and less peer pressure.

“What was not a focus [of the research] was the dynamics of the region of the study,” she told Fox News Digital. 

“I have witnessed over the years that in areas where it is warmer [California or Florida], children participate in a number of physical activities. The limitations on physical participation could have much to do with weather, finances and activities provided by the school districts themselves.”

The World Health Organization recommends that kids get an average of 60 minutes of at least moderate-intensity activity per day. (iStock)

Many charter schools (independent, government-funded schools) may not have physical activity programs and may require the students’ families to incorporate activity, Teymoorian noted. 

“Charter schools focus on academics more so than physical activity,” she said.

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The expert suggested that families should make an effort to participate in physical activities that are documented to support better health. 

“I would like to see a study on the concept of incorporating school and home as a team effort on better health and wellness,” she said.

“Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents on many levels, including building strong bones and muscles, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing the risk of many health conditions, such as heart disease and depression,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

“Working together for the betterment of children both physically and academically is the goal, both at home and at school.”

“Helping your child to find the right activity for their physical needs, personality and preferences at an early age is key to making exercise an enjoyable, lifelong habit.”

Dr. Marianna Nicoletta Gentile, a pediatric endocrinologist at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, was also not involved in the research, but emphasized the importance of regular exercise for youth.

“Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents on many levels, including building strong bones and muscles, maintaining a healthy weight and reducing the risk of many health conditions, such as heart disease and depression,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“Helping your child to find the right activity for their physical needs, personality and preferences at an early age is key to making exercise an enjoyable, lifelong habit,” Gentile added.

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More than half the world’s countries will be at high or very high risk of measles outbreaks by the end of the year unless urgent preventative measures are taken, the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday.

Measles cases have been increasing across most regions mainly due to missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 years when health systems were overwhelmed and fell behind on routine vaccinations for preventable diseases.

“What we are worried about is this year, 2024, we’ve got these big gaps in our immunisation programmes and if we don’t fill them really quickly with the vaccine, measles will just jump into that gap,” the WHO’s Natasha Crowcroft, a Senior Technical Adviser on Measles and Rubella, told a Geneva press briefing.

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“We can see, from data that’s produced with WHO data by the CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), that more than half of all the countries in the world are going to be at high or very high risk of outbreaks by the end of this year.”

She called for urgent action to protect children, saying there was a “lack of commitment” by governments given competing issues like economic crises and conflict.

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that mostly affects children under five years old. It can be prevented by two doses of vaccine and more than 50 million deaths have been averted since 2000, according to the WHO.

Cases last year were already up 79% to over 300,000, according to WHO data, – thought to represent just a fraction of the total.

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Outbreaks have been reported in all WHO regions with the exception of the Americas although Crowcroft warned that these were to be expected.

Death rates are higher in poorer countries due to weaker health systems, Crowcroft said, adding that outbreaks and deaths were also a risk for middle and high income countries.

“We had many measles outbreaks around the world and middle income countries really suffered. And we’re worried that 2024 is going to look like 2019,” she said.

A 6-year-old girl and her kindergarten teacher have something very special in common: matching scars from their open-heart surgeries.

Kennedy Vogt is a student at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando, Florida, where her teacher, Carlene Honor, also underwent heart surgery.

The school intentionally paired them up — creating a bond of “heart twins” that goes far beyond the classroom.

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Vogt was just 5 years old when a trip to the emergency room for flu and pneumonia led to the surprise diagnosis of a hole in her heart about the size of a nickel.

“It’s a rare congenital heart defect that affects the structure of the heart while it’s formed during pregnancy,” Dr. Matthew Zussman, a pediatric cardiologist at AdventHealth for Children, who is also the girl’s doctor, told Fox News Digital.

“Specifically, Kennedy had what’s known as an atrial septal defect, which causes a hole in the upper heart chambers and increases the amount of blood flowing through the lungs,” he went on. 

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While the defect doesn’t usually cause complications during childhood, it can lead to heart and lung disease in adulthood if it goes untreated, the doctor said.

The diagnosis was a shock to the family, as Vogt — an active, happy child and aspiring gymnast — had not displayed any warning signs. 

Open-heart surgery was necessary to close the hole in her heart due to its location. 

Honor and Vogt compare their matching scars from open-heart surgery. “I wanted her to know that she can have a normal life just like anybody else, even with a scar,” Honor said of her young student.  (Kristin Green-Vogt)

“The operation involves making an incision along the breastbone, connecting the patient to a heart-lung bypass machine and patching the hole,” Zussman said.

In May 2023, Vogt underwent open-heart surgery at AdventHealth for Children in Orlando.

“It was definitely hard, but everyone was wonderful and the surgery went smoothly,” said Kristin Green-Vogt, the girl’s mom. “Everything went as perfectly as that situation can go.”

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“I just thank God for modern medicine,” she added, referring to her daughter’s surgery scar as “a badge of honor.”

After just three days in the hospital, Vogt was back to her normal activities, practicing cartwheels and going to school.

“The thing people don’t realize about kids and open-heart surgery is how resilient kids are,” Zussman said. “What takes an adult patient months to recover from only takes kids a few days, and that was definitely true in Kennedy’s case.”

Bond beyond the classroom

At Lake Island Preparatory School, Vogt formed a fast connection with Honor, who lives in East Orlando with her husband, a retired Air Force member. 

Carlene Honor has been teaching for 13 years.

Five years ago, Honor had a heart attack while attending a girls basketball game at the school.

Teacher and student embrace at the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Nov. 2023. (American Heart Association)

“I stood up to hug someone and then just kind of passed out,” she told Fox News Digital. “But I was very blessed to be at Lake Highland when it happened.”

Fortunately, one of the fathers of a cheerleader at the game happened to be an AdventHealth doctor, and there was an automated external defibrillator (AED) available.

“It was just God’s timing,” Honor said. “Everything lined up to save my life.”

“I thank God that He allowed our paths to cross.”

After undergoing quintuple coronary bypass surgery, she made a full recovery — and is now feeling healthy and strong.

Looking back, Honor recognizes some warning signs she missed, such as shortness of breath and fatigue.

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“I tell everybody now: Listen to your body,” Honor said. “From that point on, I made a commitment to myself to do better when it comes to my health.”

Since the surgery, Honor has lost 70 pounds. She is now more disciplined about walking every day and keeping up with doctor’s appointments.

“She’s so independent, so self-sufficient — just a great all-around student,” Honor said of her heart-surgery buddy. “I consider Kennedy and her mom to be family.” (Kristin Green-Vogt)

As soon as Honor heard about Vogt’s surgery, she said she was anxious to meet her.

“I wanted her to know that she can have a normal life just like anybody else, even with a scar,” she said. 

Honor described Vogt as “amazing within herself.”

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“I thank God that He allowed our paths to cross,” she said. “I get to teach a variety of students, but she is just remarkable. She has a great personality — very outgoing, lively, super funny, somewhat of a perfectionist, but very easy to love.”

At first, Honor assumed she would have to take care of Vogt, but she quickly realized the girl didn’t need to be “handled with kid gloves.”

“She’s so independent, so self-sufficient — just a great all-around student,” she said. “I consider Kennedy and her mom to be family.”

“Pediatricians are often the first line of defense in diagnosing heart defects, so it’s important that children have regular check-ups.”

Vogt’s mother described her daughter and teacher as “tough cookies.”

“This was just a speed bump for them,” she told Fox News Digital. “They’re happy to share it and I hope help other people, but it’s not their full story.”

Student and teacher are described as “tough cookies.” This past November, the pair did the local American Heart Association Heart Walk together, along with over 15,000 people from the Greater Orlando area. (Kristin Green-Vogt)

In Nov. 2023, Vogt and Honor did the local American Heart Association Heart Walk together, along with more than 15,000 people from the Greater Orlando area.

Vogt was named the ambassador of the event; she kicked off the walk in a red pace car.

“It was amazing,” said Vogt’s mother. “For me personally, it was like closure. Everybody rallied around us. It just was really special.”

Heart disease in kids

While congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the U.S., they are still fairly rare, affecting only about 1% of births, or about 40,000 children per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

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“Kennedy was diagnosed with an even rarer atrial septal defect, which only accounts for about 20,000 medical cases a year,” said Zussman, Vogt’s doctor at AdventHealth for Children.

Since Vogt’s surgery, she’s had regular visits for ultrasounds and for doctors to listen to her heart — and Zussman said the team is “ecstatic” about how well she’s doing. 

AdventHealth for Children in Orlando, Florida, is one of the premier children’s health care networks in the U.S. (iStock)

“During her last appointment a few weeks ago, I actually told Kennedy and her mom that we probably only have one appointment left before she’s ready to transition to just seeing her pediatrician again,” he said.

“That’s a testament to our incredible team of congenital heart disease experts and elite pediatric cardiovascular surgeons at AdventHealth for Children.”

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The cause of congenital heart defects is not entirely known, the cardiologist noted, while other types of heart disease that develop later in life are often caused by lifestyle habits.  

Every child is different, and some don’t display clear-cut symptoms of heart defects.

While congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect in the U.S., they are still fairly rare, affecting only about 1% of births. (iStock)

“I can think of children we’ve treated who were balls of energy — playing, happy, showing absolutely no signs that anything was wrong with their heart,” the doctor said.

That said, there are some warning signs parents should be aware of, Zussman noted.

“Those include shortness of breath; fatigue; swelling of the legs, feet or belly; abnormal heart palpitations; and trouble physically keeping up with friends and classmates,” he said. 

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“Pediatricians are often the first line of defense in diagnosing heart defects, so it’s important that children have regular check-ups,” Zussman advised. 

“If you’re concerned about a possible heart issue, trust your instincts and ask for a referral to see a cardiologist.”

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