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Rudd KL, Alkon A, Abrams B, Bush NR. Infant weight-for-length gain associated with autonomic nervous system reactivity. Pediatr Res 2021; 90:472-478. [PMID: 33203965 PMCID: PMC8126564 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01246-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research suggests that children's health and well-being are supported by core adaptive systems, including the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Despite evidence for the importance of adulthood ANS regulation in the development of disease, few studies have examined how early development may influence emerging ANS function. Therefore, we examined how infant adiposity gain during early infancy related to ANS regulation at 6 months. METHODS Infant weight and length were abstracted from birth records and measured during the 6-month assessment in a low-income, racially/ethnically diverse sample (N = 60). WHO-standardized weight-for-length-gain change was calculated across the first 6 months of life. ANS reactivity was measured as the combined sympathetic (i.e., pre-ejection period) and parasympathetic (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia) nervous system responses during the developmentally challenging Still Face Paradigm (SFP). ANS "classic reactivity" response was characterized by paired sympathetic activation and parasympathetic withdrawal. RESULTS Lower weight-for-length gain in the first 6 months predicted classic reactivity during still face. However, greater weight-for-length gain predicted "classic reactivity" during the reunion, when infants were expected to recover, suggesting autonomic dysregulation. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest an association between early life adiposity gain and the development of infant ANS regulation. IMPACT Adiposity gain during early infancy was associated with autonomic nervous system regulation at 6 months. This study identifies early adiposity gain (greater than average infant weight-for-length gain) as a risk for ANS dysregulation. This research focuses on a critical developmental period of ANS plasticity. If confirmed, findings can be used to inform early intervention programs targeting obesity prevention and to promote self-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen L. Rudd
- University of California, San Francisco; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; San Francisco, CA
| | - Abbey Alkon
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Family Health Care Nursing; San Francisco, CA
| | - Barbara Abrams
- University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology; Berkeley, CA
| | - Nicole R. Bush
- University of California, San Francisco; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; San Francisco, CA,University of California, San Francisco; Department of Pediatrics; San Francisco, CA
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2
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Byrne R, Terranova CO, Trost SG. Measurement of screen time among young children aged 0-6 years: A systematic review. Obes Rev 2021; 22:e13260. [PMID: 33960616 PMCID: PMC8365769 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The impact of screen-based devices on children's health and development cannot be properly understood without valid and reliable tools that measure screen time within the evolving digital landscape. This review aimed to summarize characteristics of measurement tools used to assess screen time in young children; evaluate reporting of psychometric properties; and examine time trends related to measurement and reporting of screen time. A systematic review of articles published in English across three databases from January 2009 to April 2020 was undertaken using PROSPERO protocol (registration: CRD42019132599) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Included articles measured screen time as outcome, exposure, or confounder in children 0-6 years. The search identified 35,868 records, 1035 full-text articles were screened for eligibility, and 622 met inclusion criteria. Most measures (60%) consisted of one to three items and assessed duration of screen time on a usual day. Few measures assessed content (11%) or coviewing (7%). Only 40% of articles provided a citation for the measure, and only 69 (11%) reported psychometric properties-reliability n = 58, validity n = 19, reliability and validity n = 8. Between 2009 and 2019, the number of published articles increased from 28 to 71. From 2015, there was a notable increase in the proportion of articles published each year that assessed exposure to mobile devices in addition to television. The increasing number of published articles reflects increasing interest in screen time exposure among young children. Measures of screen time have generally evolved to reflect children's contemporary digital landscape; however, the psychometric properties of measurement tools are rarely reported. There is a need for improved measures and reporting to capture the complexity of children's screen time exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Byrne
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR)Queensland University of Technology (QUT)South BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Caroline O. Terranova
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR)Queensland University of Technology (QUT)South BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Stewart G. Trost
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Centre for Children's Health Research (CCHR)Queensland University of Technology (QUT)South BrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
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3
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Speer KE, Semple S, Naumovski N, McKune AJ. Heart rate variability for determining autonomic nervous system effects of lifestyle behaviors in early life: A systematic review. Physiol Behav 2020; 217:112806. [PMID: 31954147 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND An unhealthy lifestyle negatively alters autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity as reflected by decreased heart rate variability (HRV), increasing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Research investigating the effect of modifiable lifestyle factors on ANS activity in young children is limited. Early identification of these risk factors is vital to improving long-term individual and public health outcomes. A systematic review was conducted to assess the effect of maternal or child modifiable lifestyle factors on child ANS activity. METHODS Following the 2009 PRISMA guidelines, three electronic databases were searched from February 2018 - July 2019 for articles describing human trials between 1996 - 2019. Included studies examined ANS activity of children between 28 weeks gestational age - 6 years in relation to modifiable lifestyle CVD risk factors. RESULTS Twenty-six studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. Sixteen studies reported that modifiable lifestyle factors significantly influenced the HRV of children. Increased HRV was significantly associated with higher maternal zinc and omega-3 fatty acid intake, regular maternal aerobic exercise and a non-smoking environment. Child diet and body composition demonstrated some support for an association between these modifiable lifestyle factors and child HRV. CONCLUSION There is cross-sectional evidence supporting an association between maternal lifestyle factors and child HRV. Evidence is less supportive of a relationship between child modifiable lifestyle factors and child HRV. Monitoring the effects of lifestyle interventions on the ANS via HRV measurements of both mother and child may identify child CVD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Speer
- Faculty of Health, Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia.
| | - Stuart Semple
- Faculty of Health, Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia
| | - Nenad Naumovski
- Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia
| | - Andrew J McKune
- Faculty of Health, Discipline of Sport and Exercise Science/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia; Research Institute for Sport and Exercise/University of Canberra, Canberra, (ACT,) Australia; Discipline of Biokinetics, Exercise and Leisure Sciences, School of Health Sciences/ University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, (KwaZulu-Natal,) South Africa
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4
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Roder E, Koehler-Dauner F, Krause S, Prinz J, Rottler E, Alkon A, Kolassa IT, Gündel H, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Waller C. Maternal separation and contact to a stranger more than reunion affect the autonomic nervous system in the mother-child dyad. Int J Psychophysiol 2020; 147:26-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2019.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Doom JR, Lumeng JC, Sturza J, Kaciroti N, Vazquez DM, Miller AL. Longitudinal associations between overweight/obesity and stress biology in low-income children. Int J Obes (Lond) 2019; 44:646-655. [PMID: 31477784 PMCID: PMC7050333 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-019-0447-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Background/Objectives Associations between overweight and altered stress biology have been reported cross-sectionally during childhood, but it is unclear whether overweight precedes altered stress biology or if altered stress biology predicts greater likelihood of overweight over time. The current longitudinal study investigates associations between overweight/obesity, salivary alpha amylase and cortisol morning intercept, diurnal slope, and reactivity to social stress in a cohort of low-income children during preschool and middle childhood. Subjects/Methods Children were recruited through Head Start and were observed and followed into middle childhood (N = 257; M = 8.0 years). Height and weight were measured at both time points. Saliva samples were collected across the day and in response to a social challenge at both ages for alpha amylase and cortisol determination. Results Cross-lagged panel analyses indicated that overweight/obesity at preschool predicted lower morning alpha amylase (β = −0.18, 95% CI: −0.34, −0.03; p = .023), lower morning cortisol (β = −0.22, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.06; p = .006), lower sAA diurnal slope (β = −0.18, 95% CI: −0.34, −0.03; p = .021), and lower cortisol stress reactivity (β = −0.19, 95% CI: −0.35, −0.02; p = .031) in middle childhood. Lower alpha amylase reactivity at preschool was the only biological factor that predicted higher likelihood of overweight/obesity at middle childhood (β = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.38, −0.01; p = .035). Conclusions These findings suggest that overweight/obesity may be driving changes in stress biology across early to middle childhood, particularly in down-regulation of morning levels of stress hormones, diurnal sAA slope, and cortisol reactivity to stress, rather than stress biology driving overweight/obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenalee R Doom
- Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. .,Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - Julie C Lumeng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Julie Sturza
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Niko Kaciroti
- Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Delia M Vazquez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alison L Miller
- Center for Human Growth & Development, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Messerli-Bürgy N, Arhab A, Stülb K, Kakebeeke TH, Zysset AE, Leeger-Aschmann CS, Schmutz EA, Ehlert U, Kriemler S, Jenni OG, Munsch S, Puder JJ. Physiological stress measures in preschool children and their relationship with body composition and behavioral problems. Dev Psychobiol 2018; 60:1009-1022. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Messerli-Bürgy
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; University of Fribourg; Fribourg Switzerland
- Department of Psychology; University of Fribourg; Fribourg Switzerland
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Amar Arhab
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Stülb
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; University of Fribourg; Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Tanja H. Kakebeeke
- Child Development Center; University Children's Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Children's Research Center; University Children's Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Annina E. Zysset
- Child Development Center; University Children's Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | | | - Einat A. Schmutz
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Psychology - Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Susi Kriemler
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute; University of Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Oskar G. Jenni
- Child Development Center; University Children's Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
- Children's Research Center; University Children's Hospital Zurich; Zurich Switzerland
| | - Simone Munsch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy; University of Fribourg; Fribourg Switzerland
| | - Jardena J. Puder
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Obesity; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV); Lausanne Switzerland
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Miller AL, Kaciroti N, Sturza J, Retzloff L, Rosenblum K, Vazquez DM, Lumeng JC. Associations between stress biology indicators and overweight across toddlerhood. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 79:98-106. [PMID: 28273588 PMCID: PMC5367941 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biological stress responses are proposed as a pathway through which stress exposure can "get under the skin" and lead to health problems, specifically obesity. Yet, it is not clear when such associations may emerge or whether they are bidirectional. Cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA) were considered indicators of the biological stress response. We tested the longitudinal association between cortisol and sAA and weight in 215 low-income children at ages 21, 27, and 33 months (52% male; 46% non-Hispanic white). sAA and cortisol intercept and slope (representing morning level and rate of change across the day) were calculated for each age point using random effect models. Children were weighed and length measured and categorized as overweight versus normal weight (overweight defined as weight-for-length z-score ≥85th percentile for age and sex). Cross-lagged models stratified by sex and controlling for birthweight z-score tested the concurrent and cross-lagged associations between each of 4 indices of stress biology individually (cortisol and sAA intercept and slope) and overweight. Overweight status was correlated across time. Cortisol and sAA were correlated across occasions of measurement, though somewhat less strongly in boys. There were no concurrent associations between stress indicators and overweight. sAA at 27 months predicted greater risk of overweight at 33 months in girls, such that both lower sAA intercept and more rapidly increasing sAA at 27 months predicted greater risk of overweight at 33 months (β=-0.64, p<0.05 and β=1.09, p<0.05, respectively). For boys only, overweight at 21 months predicted lower sAA intercept at 27 months (β=-0.35, p<0.05). Findings suggest that longitudinal associations of stress biology and weight status may be present only on a limited basis very early in the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison L Miller
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States; Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health,United States.
| | - Niko Kaciroti
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, United States
| | - Julie Sturza
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Lauren Retzloff
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States
| | - Katherine Rosenblum
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States
| | - Delia M Vazquez
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States; Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, United States
| | - Julie C Lumeng
- Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Michigan, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, United States; Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, United States
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Bush NR, Caron ZK, Blackburn KS, Alkon A. Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges. J Vis Exp 2016:53652. [PMID: 26967045 DOI: 10.3791/53652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of two branches, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, and controls the function of internal organs (e.g., heart rate, respiration, digestion) and responds to everyday and adverse experiences (1). ANS measures in children have been found to be related to behavior problems, emotion regulation, and health (2-7). Therefore, understanding the factors that affect ANS development during early childhood is important. Both branches of the ANS affect young children's cardiovascular responses to stimuli and have been measured noninvasively, via external monitoring equipment, using valid and reliable measures of physiological change (8-11). However, there are few studies of very young children with simultaneous measures of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which limits understanding of the integrated functioning of the two systems. In addition, the majority of existing studies of young children report on infants' resting ANS measures or their reactivity to commonly used mother-child interaction paradigms, and less is known about ANS reactivity to other challenging conditions. We present a study design and standardized protocol for a non-invasive and rapid assessment of cardiac autonomic control in 18 month old children. We describe methods for continuous monitoring of the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the ANS under resting and challenge conditions during a home or laboratory visit and provide descriptive findings from our sample of 140 ethnically diverse toddlers using validated equipment and scoring software. Results revealed that this protocol can produce a range of physiological responses to both resting and developmentally challenging conditions, as indicated by changes in heart rate and indices of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. Individuals demonstrated variability in resting levels, responses to challenges, and challenge reactivity, which provides additional evidence that this protocol is useful for the examination of ANS individual differences for toddlers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Zoe K Caron
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | - Abbey Alkon
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco;
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Salivary alpha amylase diurnal pattern and stress response are associated with body mass index in low-income preschool-aged children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 53:40-8. [PMID: 25588701 PMCID: PMC4336565 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Physiological stress responses are proposed as a pathway through which stress can "get under the skin" and lead to health problems, specifically obesity. We tested associations of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) diurnal patterns and stress responses with body mass index (BMI) in young, low-income children (51% male; 54% non-Hispanic white). Diurnal saliva samples were collected three times per day across three days for 269 children (M age 50.8 months, SD 6.3). Individual sAA intercept and slope values were calculated using random effect models to represent morning sAA levels and rate of sAA change across the day. A subset of children (n=195; M age 56.6 months, SD 6.9) participated in a lab-based behavioral stress protocol. Area under the curve increase (AUCI) across four timepoints was calculated to represent increase in sAA output during stress elicitation. Children were weighed and height measured and BMI z-score was calculated. Linear regression was used to evaluate associations of sAA intercept, sAA slope, and sAA AUCI with BMI z-score, controlling for child age, sex, and race/ethnicity; maternal weight status; and family income-to-needs ratio. Diurnal and stress-response sAA patterns were related to child adiposity: for each 1-standard deviation unit (SDU) decrease in morning sAA level, the child's BMI z-score increased by 0.11 (SE 0.05) SDU's (p<.04); for each 1-SDU increase in sAA slope across the day, the child's BMI z-score increased by 0.12 (SE 0.05) SDU's (p<.03); and for each 1-SDU decrease in sAA AUCI during the stress elicitation, the child's BMI z-score increased by 0.14 (SE 0.06) SDU's (p<.03). Blunted stress responses and atypical diurnal patterns of sAA have been found following exposure to chronic life stressors such as poverty. Findings suggest that associations of stress, sAA, and elevated body mass index may develop very early in the lifespan.
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