Translational Investigation of Growth and Everyday Routines in Kids

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.

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.