Cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, metabolism, hypertension, etc.) can significantly impact a person’s lifespan. While obesity rates are currently stagnant, they still remain very high. Cardiovascular risk factors have thus become the focus of health research to understand what behaviors might contribute to increased risk. The majority of these studies have been aimed specifically at adults, but little is understood about the origins of these risk factors in childhood. Laurie Wideman, et al thus sought to create a longitudinal study that investigated social and emotional development, called the RIGHT Track Health Study. The RIGHT track study followed participants from infancy to young adult to understand how their self-regulation and increased autonomy via their health behaviors might contribute to cardiovascular risks factors. Participants were measured at five ages: two, four, five, seven, and ten. Participants performed a variety of assessments including body composition, fitness tests, orthostatic challenge (while having heart rate variability recorded), 7-day accelerometry for physical activity and sleep, 24-hour dietary recalls, and blood analysis for various related biomarkers. Researchers also had participants complete extensive self-report measures related to diet, sleep, physical activity, and medical history. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using BIOPAC’s dual-channel BioNomadix wireless ECG and Respiration transmitter while participants performed the orthostatic challenge. Heart rate variability measured from the orthostatic challenge was compared to HRV collected during the early years of the study where the infants underwent psychological stressors. Through their RIGHT track health study, the researchers were able to provide valuable about the influence of childhood regulatory abilities on youth healthcare. The researchers hope that their findings will help illuminate potential critical “windows,” or specific points in childhood where people may be more at risk. Assessing when these windows occur could help greatly reduce certain risk factors and help our understanding of how to prevent chronic disease earlier in life.
