Adoption of Risk-Related Factors Through Early Adolescence: Associations with Weight Status and Implications for Causal Mechanisms

Keryn E. Pasch, Melissa C. Nelson, Leslie A. Lytle, Stacey G. Moe, Cheryl L. Perry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

56 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between weight status and measures of risk and protective factors in youth. Methods: Participants included 3010 students (72.1% white, 27.9% nonwhite), with a baseline mean age of 12.7 years from the Teens Eating for Energy and Nutrition at School (TEENS) study. Surveys were administered in grades 7 and 8. Cross-sectional and longitudinal mixed-effects regression analyses were conducted to determine the association between body mass index z-score percentiles (BMI) and risk and protective factors (including substance use, depression, fighting, optimism, and spirituality). Results: Only depression was associated with BMI at the beginning of grade 7. However, by the end of grade 8, binge drinking, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use, fighting, and depression were all cross-sectionally associated with BMI. Longitudinally, BMI in grade 7 did not predict risk and protective factors in grade 8. However, ATOD use, fighting, depression, and optimism in grade 7 predicted BMI in grade 8. Conclusions: This study suggests there is a notable co-occurrence of unhealthy factors (including weight status, ATOD use, depression) which appears to develop during the critical transition period through early adolescence. Specifically, earlier ATOD use, depression, increased fighting, and decreased optimism may lead to unhealthy increases in weight status, whereas early indicators of increased weight status do not appear to predict increases in these factors. This work yields important insights into the causal mechanisms underlying adolescent behavior patterning and the progression with which these unhealthy risk factor profiles are adopted during this critical age.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)387-393
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Adolescent Health
Volume43
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2008

Bibliographical note

Copyright:
Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Depression
  • Obesity
  • Risk and protective factors
  • Substance use

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Adoption of Risk-Related Factors Through Early Adolescence: Associations with Weight Status and Implications for Causal Mechanisms'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this