A Cross-Sectional Investigation of Preadolescent Cardiometabolic Health: Associations with Fitness, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Nutrition, and Sleep
Nicholas Castro,
Gabriel Zieff,
Lauren C. Bates,
Patricia Pagan Lassalle,
Simon Higgins,
James Faulkner,
Sally Lark,
Paula Skidmore,
Michael J. Hamlin,
T. Leigh Signal,
Michelle A. Williams,
Lee Stoner
Affiliations
Nicholas Castro
School of Health and Applied Human Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
Gabriel Zieff
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27513, USA
Lauren C. Bates
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27513, USA
Patricia Pagan Lassalle
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27513, USA
Simon Higgins
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27513, USA
James Faulkner
School of Sport, Health, and Community, University of Winchester, Winchester SO224NR, UK
Sally Lark
School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Wellington 4442, New Zealand
Paula Skidmore
Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Michael J. Hamlin
Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, Christchurch 7647, New Zealand
T. Leigh Signal
School of Health Sciences, Sleep-Wake Research Centre, Massey University, Wellington 4442, New Zealand
Michelle A. Williams
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Lee Stoner
Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27513, USA
Background: Cardiometabolic disease (CMD) risk often begins early in life. Healthy lifestyle behaviors can mitigate risk, but the optimal combination of behaviors has not been determined. This cross-sectional study simultaneously examined the associations between lifestyle factors (fitness, activity behaviors, and dietary patterns) and CMD risk in preadolescent children. Methods: 1480 New Zealand children aged 8–10 years were recruited. Participants included 316 preadolescents (50% female, age: 9.5 ± 1.1 years, BMI: 17.9 ± 3.3 kg/m2). Fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness [CRF], muscular fitness), activity behaviors (physical activity, sedentary, sleep), and dietary patterns were measured. Factor analysis was used to derive a CMD risk score from 13 variables (adiposity, peripheral and central hemodynamics, glycemic control, and blood lipids). Results: Only CRF (β = −0.45, p p = 0.019) were associated with the CMD risk score in the adjusted multivariable analysis. CRF was found to be nonlinear (VO2 max ≤ ≈42 mL/kg/min associated with higher CMD risk score), and thus a CRF polynomial term was added, which was also associated (β = 0.19, p < 0.001) with the CMD risk score. Significant associations were not found with sleep or dietary variables. Conclusion: The findings indicate that increasing CRF and decreasing sedentary behavior may be important public health targets in preadolescent children.
