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Protocol for a Longitudinal Study of the Determinants of Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Young Adults

ABSTRACT Context As many as 76.7% of U.S. young adults have at least one metabolic syndrome risk factor. Often undetected, metabolic syndrome risk factors cluster with other risk factors increasing risk of future cardiometabolic disease. The prevention of metabolic syndrome risk accrual through early behavioral interventions is crucial for at-risk populations. Objectives This article outlines the protocol for the Health E Start study, including objectives, methodology, ethics, and dissemination. Additionally, we discuss the goals of the National Institutes of Health Research Enhancement Award (R15) that funded this project and how this funding will facilitate the comprehensive training of undergraduate researchers. The long-term goal of the study is to develop a theoretically driven intervention for the prevention of metabolic syndrome risk development in college students. To facilitate this goal, the aims are to identify 1) the behavioral targets for the prevention of metabolic syndrome risk development and 2) the motivations behind such behaviors to develop a theoretical framework for use in intervention design. Design This is a longitudinal observational design setting. Setting This study focuses on the transition from living at home to independent living at colleges across the United States. Participants The participants of this study are high school seniors (n = 150) who will be transitioning to college within 3 months of graduating. Main Outcome Measure For aim 1, metabolic syndrome risk will be quantified into a risk score using a principal components analysis of traditional risk factors. Associations between changes in lifestyle behaviors and changes in the risk score will identify population-specific behavioral targets. For aim 2, changes in psychological, social, and environmental antecedents of observed behaviors will be identified. Conclusions Identifying the relationship between behavior change and metabolic syndrome risk and the psychosocial and environmental predictors of observed behavior changes will facilitate the design of targeted interventions for the prevention of metabolic syndrome risk progression in the early college years.