ACUTE EFFECTS OF SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE ON MOOD AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Pediatric obesity has reached epidemic proportions, particularly among ethnic minorities 1, 2, placing children at high and life-long risk for a range of diseases including cardiovascular disease 3, 4 and type 2 diabetes 5. According to a recent study, Hispanic/Latina girls born in 2000 have the highest estimated lifetime risk (53%) for developing diabetes, primarily due to the epidemic in lifestyle-related pediatric obesity in this group. To prevent obesity and related disease in Latina girls, the promotion of physical activity and healthy diet throughout childhood and adolescence is thus essential. However, during puberty, physical activity levels plummet, especially in girls, and particularly in Hispanic/Latina girls. Furthermore, the typical food intake including food availability in most schools potentially contributes to obesity risk by offering an attractive array of affordable snacks and drinks that are typically high in simple carbohydrates. There is increasing evidence that diets high in simple carbohydrates may have yet another, indirect impact on pediatric obesity because these meals have an acute negative influence on mood and feelings of energy. Negative mood and low feelings of energy have been consistently related to low levels of physical activity. Therefore, children who consume meals high in simple carbohydrates may be less motivated to be physically active. We hypothesize that consumption of energy dense high sugar snacks and beverages acutely impacts mood, leading to lower energy levels and less physical activity. Conversely, we hypothesize that consumption of meals with more complex carbohydrates and fiber will lead to better mood, higher energy levels and higher physical activity. In this proposal we focus on Hispanic/Latino girls because they are at higher risk for obesity and related complications, and because the pubertal decline in physical activity is particularly severe in this group. Through 2 phases, this pilot study will 1) carefully develop meals (especially CCHO meals) that Latina girls find appealing, 2) furnish an exercise laboratory with choices of sedentary and physically active options that Latina girls find appealing, 3) develop a highly innovative protocol for measuring spontaneous physical activity when offered equally attractive choices for active or sedentary behaviors in a laboratory setting using a modified version of SOPLAY (System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth) and 4) accrue data on the acute effects of meal composition on mood and physical activity in Latina girls that will provide pilot data for a large-scale clinical trial to understand the acute affects of poor nutritional choices on physical activity in Hispanic/Latina girls at high risk for obesity, diabetes type 2, and other obesity-related diseases.