Location: Children's Nutrition Research Center
2023 Annual Report
Objectives
(1) Examine the acute effects of sedentary behaviors on energy metabolism and cardiometabolic health in Latino adolescents, after adjusting diet.
(2. NEW) Removed to due investigator departure.
Approach
Researchers will utilize whole-room calorimetry to examine the effects of an acute bout of sedentary behaviors on cardiometabolic outcomes (glucose, insulin, lipids, arterial stiffness) and energy metabolism (energy expenditure, substrate utilization) in Latino adolescents (12-16 years old) with obesity (BMI% '95th) as compared to non-Latino white adolecents (12-16 years old) with obesity (BMI% '95th). Findings from this study will increase our understanding of the contributions of sedentary behaviors to the development of cardiometabolic diseases in high-risk youth. This information will inform future behavioral interventions aimed at reducing sedentariness to reduce disease risk and address health disparities in Latino youth.
Progress Report
Sleep is a vitally important behavior that supports healthy growth and development. Sleep hygiene sets the stage for healthy sleep, but these behaviors may differ across the school year and summer environments. To quantify differences in children's sleep hygiene behaviors across the school year and summer, researchers at the Children's Nutrition Research Center in Houston, Texas, conducted a longitudinal observational study in which parents reported their child's sleep and sleep hygiene habits during the school year and summer. We found that children aged 5-8 years old had later sleep timing and greater screen use during summer compared to the school year. Additionally, having more positive sleep hygiene habits during the school year was associated with having a healthier weight status. Supporting families in the establishment of sleep-promoting behaviors, particularly during the school year may help address the child obesity epidemic.
Accomplishments
