Trajectory Study: Predicting Cardiometabolic Health in Adolescents and Young Adults Based on Childhood Fitness, Sleep, and Diet (Trajectory)

The Trajectory study aims to determine whether childhood aerobic fitness, sleep quality, and diet quality predict cardiometabolic health during puberty and early adulthood, independently of adiposity.

Study Overview

• Status: Enrolling by invitation
• Conditions: Cardiometabolic Health

Detailed Description

The Trajectory study is a longitudinal observational study. Participants will be recalled from two existing pediatric cohorts: the Arkansas Active Kids study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03221673; IRB #206217) and the MI Energy study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04427462; IRB #260376). Both were cross-sectional studies with comparable designs, recruiting children between ages 7 and 10 years, regardless of sex, BMI, or ethnicity. The Trajectory study serves as the follow-up component during adolescence or early adulthood (ages 13-21). It is anticipated that approximately 250 participants will complete the follow-up visit.

During the follow-up visit at the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center (ACNC), the following key measurements will be conducted:

• Body Composition: Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA)
• Metabolic Profile: Fasting blood markers, including glucose, lipid profile, and insulin resistance
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Interstitial sensor-based glucose
• Vascular Function: Ultrasound (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation)
• Liver Examination: Ultrasound (liver steatosis and stiffness)
• Resting Metabolic Rate: Indirect calorimetry
• Aerobic Capacity: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (spirometry)
• Muscle Strength: Dynamometry
• Physical Activity & Sleep: Accelerometry
• Dietary Intake: Food frequency questionary

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 250

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72202
      • Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72202
      • Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Adolescents (13 to 17 years) and young adults (18 to 21 years) who previously participated in the Arkansas Active Kids study (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT03221673; IRB #206217) and the MI Energy study (clinicaltrials.gov #NCT04427462; IRB #260376).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 13 to 21 years.
• Boys or girls.
• All ethnicities.
• All BMIs.
• Previous participation in the Arkansas Active Kids study and the MI Energy study.
• Participants who previously agreed to be contacted for future research at ACNC.
• Participants who agree to the use of their previously collected information and samples from the AAK or MI Energy studies for the follow-up study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Asthma that requires daily use of inhalers to keep symptoms under control.
• Asthma that requires use of rescue inhalers (e.g., albuterol) >2 days per week.
• Exercise-induced asthma.
• Autism spectrum disorder (e.g., Autistic disorder, Rett disorder, Asperger disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
• Neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy or seizures).
• Cancer.
• Hormonal disease (e.g., hypothyroidism and growth hormone deficiency).
• Autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, thyroiditis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis).
• Bleeding disorders (e.g., hemophilia).
• Chronic infections (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C).
• Other pre-existing medical conditions or medications as determined by the investigators to affect the outcomes of interest.
• Pregnancy (verbal assessment).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Composite score of cardiometabolic health status.	This composite outcome evaluates cardiometabolic health across two time points (pre-/early-adolescence and adolescence/early adulthood). It is calculated as the mean of z-scores for: fasting triglycerides and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (from fasting blood samples), HOMA2-IR (from fasting glucose and insulin), systolic blood pressure (automated sphygmomanometer), fat mass index [DXA-derived fat mass (kg)/height²], and inverse peak oxygen uptake (measured via graded exercise test with indirect calorimetry). The composite provides an overall measure of cardiometabolic health status. The goal is to assess whether childhood aerobic fitness, sleep quality, and diet quality independently predict this score, controlling for adiposity [DXA-derived fat mass index (kg/m²)].	Baseline assessment in childhood (ages 7-10) and follow-up assessment during adolescence or early adulthood (ages 13-21)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elisabet Borsheim, Ph.D, Arkansas Children's Research Institute

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2029

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 31, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 6, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 2, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 30, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: children; adolescents; diet; longitudinal study; sleep quality; physical fitness; diet quality; cardiovascular risk prediction
• Other Study ID Numbers: 297969

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No