Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids

Conditions

Childhood Obesity

Keywords

Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors, Childhood and Adolescence

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of severe obesity on physical activity, sedentary behavior and cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence and whether these associations are modified by race. Additionally, the study will investigate the contributions of (total, regional, and depot-specific) fat accumulation on changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence.

Detailed description

The proposed study will establish a prospective pediatric cohort to identify intervention targets based on the location, timing, barriers, and facilitators of current physical activity and sedentary behavior in a child's day. The project will be a prospective examination of 340 African American and White girls and boys aged 10 to 16 years, including 50% who are classified as severely obese. State-of-the-art technology will be used including accelerometry to quantify physical activity, magnetic resonance imaging to quantify fat accumulation, and geographic position system and ecological momentary assessment to identify environmental and socio-emotional barriers and facilitators. In further detail, this study will examine the following objectives: Objective 1: Determine the effect of severe obesity on physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence and whether these associations are modified by race. Objective 2: Investigate the contribution of (total, regional, and depot-specific) fat accumulation on changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and cardiometabolic risk factors during childhood and adolescence. Objective 3: Determine barriers and facilitators of physical activity that are related to obesity, including environmental and socio-emotional factors.

Mónica Suárez-Reyes, Alyssa M. Button, Robbie Beyl, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Amanda E. Staiano

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2026-02-19

10.3389/fspor.2026.1709140

An examination of the relationships between the neighborhood social environment, adiposity, and cardiometabolic disease risk in adolescence: a cross-sectional study

Kara D. Denstel, Robbie A. Beyl, Denise Danos, Maura M. Kepper, Amanda E. Staiano et al. (8 authors)

BMC Public Health2023-09-013 citations

10.1186/s12889-023-16580-0

Visceral, subcutaneous, and total fat mass accumulation in a prospective cohort of adolescents.

Staiano AE, Katzmarzyk PT.

2022-09-015 citations

10.1093/ajcn/nqac129

Interventions

None listed

Study design

Observational model

COHORT

Time perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

10 Years to 16 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Age 10-16 years * Body weight \< 500 lbs. * Ability to understand instructions and complete all study procedures

Exclusion criteria

* Pregnant * On a restrictive diet due to illness * Significant physical or mental disabilities that impede walking, wearing accelerometer or GPS, or responding to EMA.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Objective 2 Primary Outcome: Relationship Between Total Fat Accumulation and Change in Sedentary Behavior. - Waist Circumfrence	Baseline and Year 2	Body composition will be determined by DXA and MRI. With DXA, total body fat and trunk fat will be measured by whole-body DXA using a GE iDXA scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) to quantify total and regional body fat (including trunk fat). MRI - Visceral fat, i.e. visceral adipose tissue, will be measured by water-fat shifting MRI using the General Electric Discovery 750w 3.0 Tesla (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). IDEAL-IQ imaging technique will be used to generate water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition with a 20-second breath-hold. Sedentary behavior will be measured by a a triaxial accelerometer as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 2 Primary Outcome: Relationship Between Total Fat Accumulation and Change in Sedentary Behavior - Visceral Adipose Tissue	Baseline and Year 2	Body composition will be determined by DXA and MRI. With DXA, total body fat and trunk fat will be measured by whole-body DXA using a GE iDXA scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) to quantify total and regional body fat (including trunk fat). MRI - Visceral fat, i.e. visceral adipose tissue, will be measured by water-fat shifting MRI using the General Electric Discovery 750w 3.0 Tesla (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). IDEAL-IQ imaging technique will be used to generate water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition with a 20-second breath-hold. Sedentary behavior will be measured by a a triaxial accelerometer as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 2 Primary Outcome: Relationship Between Total Fat Accumulation and Change in Sedentary Behavior - Adiposity	Baseline and Year 2	Body composition will be determined by DXA and MRI. With DXA, total body fat and trunk fat will be measured by whole-body DXA using a GE iDXA scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) to quantify total and regional body fat (including trunk fat). MRI - Visceral fat, i.e. visceral adipose tissue, will be measured by water-fat shifting MRI using the General Electric Discovery 750w 3.0 Tesla (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). IDEAL-IQ imaging technique will be used to generate water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition with a 20-second breath-hold. Sedentary behavior will be measured by a a triaxial accelerometer as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 2 Primary Outcome: Relationship Between Total Fat Accumulation and Change in Sedentary Behavior - Body Fat (%)	Baseline and Year 2	Body composition will be determined by DXA and MRI. With DXA, total body fat and trunk fat will be measured by whole-body DXA using a GE iDXA scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) to quantify total and regional body fat (including trunk fat). MRI - Visceral fat, i.e. visceral adipose tissue, will be measured by water-fat shifting MRI using the General Electric Discovery 750w 3.0 Tesla (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). IDEAL-IQ imaging technique will be used to generate water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition with a 20-second breath-hold. Sedentary behavior will be measured by a a triaxial accelerometer as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 1 Primary Outcome: Change in Minutes of Sedentary Behavior, Light Physical Activity, and Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity	Baseline and Year 2	Physical activity and sedentary behavior will be measured by a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Actigraph of Ft. Walton Beach, FL). The participant will be instructed to wear the accelerometer on an elasticized belt, on the left mid-axillary line. The Actigraph is one of the most common accelerometers used for scientific purposes. Participants will be encouraged to wear the accelerometer 24-hours per day for at least 7-days (plus an initial familiarization day and the morning of the final day), including 2 weekend days. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including diet and physical activity habits.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Objective 1 Secondary Analysis: Change in Days/Week of Physical Activity Between Years.	Baseline and Year 2	MVPA measured by a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Actigraph of Ft. Walton Beach, FL) as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 2 Secondary Analysis: Relationship Between Fat Mass Accumulation and Change in Physical Activity.	Baseline and Year 2	Body composition will be determined by DXA and MRI. With DXA, total body fat and trunk fat will be measured by whole-body DXA using a GE iDXA scanner (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) to quantify total and regional body fat (including trunk fat). MRI - Visceral fat, i.e. visceral adipose tissue, will be measured by water-fat shifting MRI using the General Electric Discovery 750w 3.0 Tesla (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). IDEAL-IQ imaging technique will be used to generate water-only, fat-only, in-phase, and out-of-phase echoes in a single acquisition with a 20-second breath-hold. Physical Activity will be measured by a triaxial accelerometer as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.
Objective 1 Secondary Analysis: Change in Daily Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) Minutes Between Years.	Baseline and Year 2	MVPA measured by a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Actigraph of Ft. Walton Beach, FL) as described in outcome 1. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including physical activity habits.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

Arm	Count
TIGER Kids Sample 342 boys and girls ages 10 to 16 years from every weight category (normal weight, overweight, and obese). Used state-of-the-art technology, including activity trackers and global positioning system (GPS) information, to track physical activity, imaging to measure body fat, and messages sent through a mobile phone app (called ecological momentary assessment) to identify what motivates or prevents kids from being physically active. Participants attended an orientation session at Pennington Biomedical to learn about the study, sign consent and receive their activity tracking tools. These tools were returned at clinic visit approximately 1 week later. Assessments include body measurements, blood pressure, surveys, blood draw, dietary recall and body composition. Participants will repeated the activity monitor tracking and a second clinic visit 2 years later.	256
Total	256

Arm

Count

TIGER Kids Sample

342 boys and girls ages 10 to 16 years from every weight category (normal weight, overweight, and obese). Used state-of-the-art technology, including activity trackers and global positioning system (GPS) information, to track physical activity, imaging to measure body fat, and messages sent through a mobile phone app (called ecological momentary assessment) to identify what motivates or prevents kids from being physically active. Participants attended an orientation session at Pennington Biomedical to learn about the study, sign consent and receive their activity tracking tools. These tools were returned at clinic visit approximately 1 week later. Assessments include body measurements, blood pressure, surveys, blood draw, dietary recall and body composition. Participants will repeated the activity monitor tracking and a second clinic visit 2 years later.

256

Total

256

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic	TIGER Kids Sample
Age, Categorical <=18 years	256 Participants
Age, Categorical >=65 years	0 Participants
Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Asian	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American	95 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported	14 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB) White	147 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Female	141 Participants
Sex: Female, Male Male	115 Participants

Adverse events

Event type	EG000 affected / at risk
deaths Total, all-cause mortality	0 / 342
other Total, other adverse events	0 / 342
serious Total, serious adverse events	0 / 342

Outcome results

Primary

Objective 1 Primary Outcome: Change in Minutes of Sedentary Behavior, Light Physical Activity, and Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity

Physical activity and sedentary behavior will be measured by a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X+, Actigraph of Ft. Walton Beach, FL). The participant will be instructed to wear the accelerometer on an elasticized belt, on the left mid-axillary line. The Actigraph is one of the most common accelerometers used for scientific purposes. Participants will be encouraged to wear the accelerometer 24-hours per day for at least 7-days (plus an initial familiarization day and the morning of the final day), including 2 weekend days. Participants will also complete a Lifestyle survey to collect information including diet and physical activity habits.