Modeling effect of individual and environmental factors on obesity and cardiometabolic risk, in schools in the Cuenca canton

Background: psychosocial and environmental factors can condition the appearance of risky behaviors in children as inadequate food and physical inactivity; Which in turn are related to overweight, obesity and other metabolic risk factors (hyopemias and hypertension) present in childhood and adulthood. Unfortunately, these factors and their interactions have been little studied in the Ecuadorian children. Objective: Model the interactions between psychosocial and environmental factors with food, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, physical condition and cardiometabolic profile in schoolchildren between 5 to 12 years of age in Cuenca-Ecuador. METHODOLOGY: A transverse study - Causal correlational with a quantitative and qualitative mixed approach will be carried out, in a representative sample of 870 children from 5 to 12 years of age attending 30 basin schools. In each school the following activities will be carried out: i) Evaluation of the built and food environment inside and outside schools through objective measurements (inventories, counting, geo-positioning) in a ten-minute isocone. Ii) Evaluation of food intake (24 -hour reminders), physical activity (accelerometers), physical condition, sedentary lifestyle (questionnaire), cardiometabolic profile (weight, size, circumference of the waist, blood pressure and percentage of body fat), lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL) and glucose of children. Iii) Identification of psychosocial factors and the perception of environment from the point of view of children, parents, teachers and staff of school bars (questionnaires). Once collected, coded and stored, the data will be built a statistical interaction model between variables using a model of structural equations. Finally, causal relationships will be sought to explain the model obtained. Expected results: a causal model will be obtained that explains the interactions and/or associations between psychosocial and environmental factors with food, physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, physical condition and cardiometabolic profile in schoolchildren. Additionally, 1) scientific dissemination materials, 2) database and 3) topics for degree work will be generated. Finally, new and high scientific quality information will be obtained useful for designing public policies and experimental studies aimed at mitigating cardiometabolic risks and improving the lifestyles of the population under study.