Social and Behavioral Factors are associated with Metabolic Syndrome Components in Hispanic Adolescents
Susana Mascarell, MD, Nike Mourikes, MD, Meenakshi Pande, MD1, Carolyn Lopez, MD1 and Leon Fogelfeld, MD1
1John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL.
To understand the impact of social, cultural and behavioral factors on development of metabolic syndrome (MS), we studied 46 healthy adolescents (26 females and 20 males aged 16-19). Each patient was scored by the number of metabolic syndrome risk factors (MSF). In a separate abstract, we showed that the prevalence of the MS was high (14.7%) with much higher prevalence in males. MS and MSF score were associated with higher levels of atherosclerosis markers and insulin resistance. In this study, validated surveys with emphasis on acculturation factors, physical and sedentary activities and eating attitudes and behaviors were completed by the participants.
Family history of diabetes (33%) did not correlate with MSF. Years living in the US (median 15.5) and higher acculturation score correlated with preference for fat foods, more frequent visits to fast food restaurants and more sedentary activities (measures: sedentary activity score, sedentary daily/weekly time in hours spent on internet, watching TV, films, reading, p<0.05 ). Healthy eating measures (healthy eating behavior score, preferences for fruits and vegetables and avoidance of fat foods) did not correlate with MS, MSF score or any of the individual MSF. However, they correlated inversely with sedentary activities measures (p<0.05). Preferences for high calorie soft drinks were not related to any obesity or MS measures but inversely related to healthy eating score (p<0.05) and were higher among males (p<0.05). Males had also lower healthy eating scores than females (p<0.05). Higher number of sport activities (higher in males), lower sedentary score and daily sedentary time correlated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Higher sedentary life measures (sedentary activity score, sedentary daily/weekly time) correlated with MS, MSF score, BMI and waist circumference). TV watching time (mean 3.2 2.1 hours/day) correlated with MS, MSF score, BMI and C-reactive protein levels.
In this study, increased sedentary activities, especially TV watching time, emerged as the strongest factors associated with metabolic syndrome.
This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from GlaxoSmithKline.
