Pre-Adolescent Cardio-Metabolic Associations and Correlates: PACMAC methodology and study protocol

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Cardiovascular Disease Research
• Public Health & Epidemiology

Background:

• Atherosclerosis, typically linked to older age, initiates in childhood, with increasing rates in pre-adolescents.
• The childhood obesity epidemic is a significant factor contributing to the early onset of atherosclerosis.
• Understanding early risk factors is crucial for long-term cardiovascular health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationships between obesity, lifestyle behaviors (nutrition, physical activity, sleep, psychosocial factors), and cardiometabolic health in pre-pubescent children (8-10 years).
• To explore potential differences in these relationships between Māori and Caucasian children.
• To identify targets for interventions aimed at reducing obesity and improving cardiometabolic health in young children.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design involving 400 pre-pubescent children (8-10 years old).
• Phase 2 includes a subgroup (50 Māori, 50 Caucasian children) with additional detailed measurements.
• Statistical analyses using general linear models and logistic regression to identify key correlates of fatness, physical activity, nutrition, and cardiometabolic health.

Main Results:

• This section is to be filled once the study is completed and results are available.

Conclusions:

• This section is to be filled once the study is completed and conclusions are drawn.