hoare-sexspecific-2018.pdf (314.51 kB)
Sex-specific associations in nutrition and activity-related risk factors for chronic disease: Australian evidence from childhood to emerging adulthood.
journal contribution
posted on 2018-01-01, 00:00 authored by Erin Hoare, Sarah Dash, Garry L Jennings, Bronwyn A KingwellGlobal assessments of burden of disease suggests there are sex differences in risk factors for chronic disease, including overweight/obesity, dietary patterns and habitual physical activity. Given that prevention efforts aim to target such factors to reduce disease risk, the age at which sex differences may occur is of particular interest. Early life to young adulthood is the optimal time for intervention, with lifestyle habits typically forming during this period. This study aimed to identify the sex differences in risk factors for chronic disease during childhood (5-9 years), adolescence (10-17 years) and emerging adulthood (18-25 years) in a large population-representative Australian sample. Among children in this study (n = 739), no sex-related differences were observed. Among adolescents (n = 1304), females were more likely than males to meet daily fruit and vegetable recommendations (12.9% vs. 7.5%; OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.16, 2.93, p < 0.05). Among emerging adults (n = 909), females were less likely to be overweight/obese (30.1% vs. 39.8%; OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.95, p < 0.05) and more likely to meet physical activity recommendations (52.1% vs. 42.3%; OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.01, 2.06, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that sex differences for risk factors of chronic disease occur during adolescence and emerging adulthood, although the differences are not consistent across age periods. From adolescence onwards, it appears that females exhibit lower risk factors than males and a life span approach to risk factor monitoring is warranted.
History
Journal
International journal of environmental research and public healthVolume
15Issue
2Article number
214Pagination
1 - 12Publisher
MDPILocation
Basel, SwitzerlandPublisher DOI
Link to full text
eISSN
1660-4601Language
engPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
cardiovascular diseasediabetesearly lifelifestyle risk factorsnutritionobesityphysical activitysex differencesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineEnvironmental SciencesPublic, Environmental & Occupational HealthEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyPHYSICAL-ACTIVITYUNITED-STATESSOCIAL DESIRABILITYCONSUMPTIONFRUITADOLESCENCEPREVALENCEOVERWEIGHTVEGETABLES
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC