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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Healthy Body Weight Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #285581
Title: Stress, behavior, and biology: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in youth

Author
item Roemmich, James
item FEDA, DENISE - University Of Buffalo
item LAMBIASE, MAYA - University Of Buffalo

Submitted to: American College of Sports Medicine
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/23/2014
Publication Date: 10/2/2014
Citation: Roemmich, J.N., Feda, D.A., Lambiase, M.J. 2014. Stress, behavior, and biology: Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in youth. American College of Sports Medicine. 42(4):145-152.

Interpretive Summary: This paper reviews the lead authors work on the effects of psychological stress on the health behaviors and cardiovascular health of children. The findings from three independent samples of youth demonstrate that cardiovascular reactivity to interpersonal stress is consistently associated with the beginnings of cardiovascular disease (CVD) as early as childhood. Other studies demonstrate that stress promotes atherogenic behaviors in children including snacking of energy dense foods and reduced physical activity; and that it also increases adiposity. The review closes by discussing a series of studies that exercise dampens reactivity to later stress, which may be one mechanism by which it protects against the development of CVD.

Technical Abstract: Psychological stress is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) pathogenesis during childhood. Stress promotes atherogenic behaviors in children including snacking of energy dense foods and reduced physical activity; and it also increases adiposity. Stress-induced CV reactivity may also be atherogenic. Exercise dampens reactivity to later stress, which may be one mechanism by which it protects against the development of CVD.