Pre-adolescent Cardio-metabolic Associations And Correlates

Abstract

The process of atherosclerosis is increasingly frequently initiating during preadolescence. The early onset of atherosclerosis has been linked to cardiometabolic complications, including obesity, which in turn are associated with deficient lifestyle behaviors. PURPOSE: Assess the associations between body fatness and lifestyle behaviors with cardiometabolic health in prepubescent children aged 8-10 years. METHODS: Three hundred ninety two children aged 8-10 years (195 male, 197 female; 9.5 ± 1.1y) were recruited from three regions across New Zealand. Body composition was evaluated using anthropometric measurements (waist: hip ratio) and bio-electrical impedance analysis (body fat %). Cardio-respiratory fitness was calculated using the 20-meter shuttle run. Physical activity and sedentary behavior was estimated using the Youth Physical Activity Questionnaire. Nutritional behavior was evaluated using the New Zealand Adolescent food Frequency Questionnaire (processed food, fruit/veg consumption, breakfast foods). Quality of sleep was assessed using the Child Sleep Habits Questionnaire (duration, habits, social jet lag). Cardiometabolic health was gauged using pulse wave analysis to assess blood pressures (diastolic, systolic, central systolic) and arterial wave reflections (augmentation pressure), and finger prick procedures to evaluate fasting blood lipids (LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides), glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin. RESULTS: The cardiometabolic variables were reduced to 4 factors using principle component analysis: (blood pressure, cholesterol, vascular, carbohydrate-metabolic). Following adjustment for co-founders, body fat % associated with blood pressure and vascular factors. Cardio-respiratory fitness and strength associated with CHO-Met, whereas sedentary associated with cholesterol and vascular factors. Processed foods associated with vascular, whereas fruit/veg associated with cholesterol. Social lag associated only with cholesterol. CONCLUSION: One common factor is unlikely to define cardiometabolic health in pre-adolescent children, and each of the underlying cardiometabolic health factors is associated with different lifestyle behaviors.