Structural equation modeling of the associations between the home environment and obesity-related cardiovascular fitness and insulin resistance among Hispanic children

Margarita Santiago-Torres; Yuchen Cui; Alexandra K Adams; David B Allen; Aaron L Carrel; Jessica Y Guo; Tara L LaRowe; Dale A Schoeller

doi:10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.003

Structural equation modeling of the associations between the home environment and obesity-related cardiovascular fitness and insulin resistance among Hispanic children

Appetite. 2016 Jun 1:101:23-30. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.003. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

Authors

Margarita Santiago-Torres¹, Yuchen Cui², Alexandra K Adams³, David B Allen⁴, Aaron L Carrel⁴, Jessica Y Guo⁵, Tara L LaRowe⁶, Dale A Schoeller⁷

Affiliations

¹ Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. Electronic address: msantiag@fredhutch.org.
² University of Maryland, School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
³ University of Wisconsin, Department of Family Medicine, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
⁴ University of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
⁵ Parsons Brinckerhoff, Portland, OR 98026, USA.
⁶ University of Wisconsin, Department of Preventive Cardiology, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
⁷ University of Wisconsin, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Abstract

Hispanic children are disproportionally affected by obesity-related risk of metabolic disease. We used the structural equation modeling to examine the associations between specific diet and physical activity (PA) behaviors at home and Hispanic children's metabolic health. A total of 187 Hispanic children and their parents from an urban community in Wisconsin participated in the study. Exposure variables included, children's daily intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and PA; home availability of SSB and PA areas/equipment; and parents' intake of SSB and PA, assessed through self-administered questionnaires. Outcome variables for children's metabolic health included, measured anthropometrics; cardiovascular fitness assessed using the Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER); and insulin resistance determined with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMAIR). We found that children's daily intake of SSB was positively associated with BMI z-score, which in turn, was positively associated with HOMAIR (P < 0.05). Specific diet behaviors at home associated with children's intake of SSB, included home availability of SSB, which mediated the association between parents' and children's intake of SSB (P < 0.05). Children's PA was positively associated with PACER z-score, which in turn, was inversely associated with HOMAIR (P < 0.05). Specific PA behaviors at home associated with children's PA, included home availability of PA areas/equipment, which mediated the association between parents' and children's PA (P < 0.05). The structural equation model indices suggested a satisfactory model fit (Chi-square, X(2) = 53.1, comparative fix index = 0.92, root-mean-squared error associated = 0.04). The findings confirm the need for interventions at the family level that promotes healthier home environments by targeting poor diet and low levels of PA in all family members.

Keywords: Cardiovascular fitness; Hispanic children; Home environment; Insulin resistance; Structural equation modeling.

Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Beverages / analysis
Body Mass Index
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet*
Energy Intake
Environment*
Exercise
Exercise Test*
Family Characteristics
Female
Hispanic or Latino*
Humans
Insulin Resistance*
Male
Nutritive Sweeteners / administration & dosage
Nutritive Sweeteners / analysis
Obesity
Parent-Child Relations
Parents / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wisconsin

Substances

Nutritive Sweeteners

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding