Internalizing Symptoms in Early Teens Tied to Later Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Early internalizing symptoms tied to later obesity, sedentary behavior, sleep problems

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Oct. 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Internalizing symptoms among Latinx youth during early adolescence relate to health behaviors and outcomes underlying cardiometabolic risk during middle and late adolescence, according to a study published online Oct. 10 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Kathleen M. Roche, Ph.D., from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and colleagues examined how Latinx youth’s internalizing symptoms during early adolescence are related to sleep problems, overweight/obesity, sedentary behavior, physical activity, healthy diet, and hypertension or diabetes risk during middle and late adolescence. The analysis included survey results from 547 Hispanic adolescents.

The researchers found that early adolescent internalizing symptoms were associated positively with later sleep problems (Ã = 0.36), overweight/obesity (adjusted odds ratio, 2.57), sedentary behavior (Ã = 0.19), and internalizing symptoms (Ã = 0.48). There was an inverse association with early adolescent internalizing symptoms and later physical activity (Ã = â0.16) and a healthy diet (Ã = â0.21).

“Explanations for the onset and progression of chronic diseases of aging are multifactorial and complex,” the authors write. “Results from this study suggest the potential value of public health interventions that move beyond lifestyle behaviors and directly address mental health during the early adolescent years.”

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