Physical activity, stress, and the metabolic syndrome

The objective of this study is to gain an understanding of the role of stressors on the genesis of the metabolic syndrome during puberty.  This project has two specific aims: 1) Examine the stress response to psychological and physical perturbations in obese and non-obese adolescents.  In this study, measurement of salivary cortisol will be used as an indicator of HPA axis activity and BP and heart rate will be used as indicators of the SAM axis. We hypothesize an exaggerated stress response in obese adolescents compared to non-obese adolescents. 2) Examine the relationships among energy expenditure, cortisol, and atherosclerotic risk factors in obese and non-obese adolescents. We hypothesize a direct relationship between baseline cortisol levels and atherosclerotic risk factors and more specifically we hypothesize that physical activity will modify the relationship between cortisol and atherosclerotic risk factors. 

Funded by the Center for Designing Food and Improving Nutrition, Iowa State University through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.