ANXIETY AND METABOLIC SYNDROME IN NORMAL AND OVERWEIGHT YOUTH

M. E. Holmes, J. C. Eisenmann; Iowa State University, Michigan State University

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) among U.S. adolescents has been increasing over the last decade. The cornerstone risk factors - physical activity and diet - typically account for only a small-to-modest amount of the MetS phenotype in youth. Thus, there is reason to consider other possible etiological factors when examining MetS in youth. Stress is a ubiquitous term that is often used to describe the body’s response to various physical, psychosocial, and environmental stimuli. In general, stress has been associated with poor metabolic health in adults; however, little is known about this relationship in children and adolescents. Likewise, little is know about individual contributors to stress activation, such as anxiety, in youth.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary data on the relationship between trait-anxiety and MetS in a group of 8-18 year old boys (n=37). Specifically, we examined the whether the relationship between anxiety and MetS differed between normal weight and overweight boys.

METHODS: Physical activity was assessed using the MTI Actigraph accelerometer and expressed as moderate, vigorous and total daily physical activity. Trait anxiety was quantified using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children. Because clinical manifestation of the MetS typically does not occur until later in life, a continuous metabolic syndrome score (MSS) was created. The MSS was generated by summing the age-standardized residuals for waist circumference, mean arterial pressure, glycosylated hemoglobin, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol.

RESULTS: In the total sample, the correlation between anxiety and the MSS was low (r= 0.28) after adjustment for age, maturity, and physical activity. After separating the group into weight categories, anxiety was moderately associated with the MSS in the overweight group (r= 0.51). In contrast, there was no association in the normal weight group (r= -0.01).

CONCLUSIONS: The results show preliminary but suggestive evidence that anxiety influences children's health differently according to weight status. Specifically, anxiety accounts for more of the variance in MSS in overweight children compared to normal weight children and should be considered in treatment strategies geared towards overweight youth.

*This work supported by a grant from the Center for Designing Food and Improving Nutrition, Iowa State University-USDA CRESS.