Cardiometabolic Lab
Worldwide, health systems are struggling under the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases, of which cardiometabolic complications and subsequent cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are arguably at the forefront. Of particular concern, atherosclerosis, the process leading to CVD, is occurring at an increasingly younger age, prolonging the burden of disease and resulting in lost years of productivity, a decreased quality of life, and a growing economic burden. The rapidly changing cardiometabolic disease epidemiology points to the importance of environmental, behavioral, and social-cultural determinants of health.
There are two particularly important periods in one’s life in terms of ultimate cardiometabolic disease risk: pre-adolescence, and young adulthood (18-24 yrs). During early childhood, when biological systems are most alterable/plastic there, chronic disease risk trajectories are hard-wired though the interplay between genetic and environmental cues. Important environmental cues include: physical activity, nutrition, sleep behavior, as well as psychosocial stressors. During the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, sudden environmental and resource changes coincide with dramatic biological, psychological, and social development. These developmental factors differ by sex and minority status, including racial/ethnic minorities and those who identify is LGBTQIA+. Unfortunately, lifestyle and cardiometabolic disease research has predominantly targeted adults middle-aged and older, and young-adulthood has been neglected.
The CML investigates the interactions between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic health. Specific inter-related interests include:
Worldwide, health systems are struggling under the escalating burden of non-communicable diseases, of which cardiometabolic complications and subsequent cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are arguably at the forefront. Of particular concern, atherosclerosis, the process leading to CVD, is occurring at an increasingly younger age, prolonging the burden of disease and resulting in lost years of productivity, a decreased quality of life, and a growing economic burden. The rapidly changing cardiometabolic disease epidemiology points to the importance of environmental, behavioral, and social-cultural determinants of health.
There are two particularly important periods in one’s life in terms of ultimate cardiometabolic disease risk: pre-adolescence, and young adulthood (18-24 yrs). During early childhood, when biological systems are most alterable/plastic there, chronic disease risk trajectories are hard-wired though the interplay between genetic and environmental cues. Important environmental cues include: physical activity, nutrition, sleep behavior, as well as psychosocial stressors. During the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, sudden environmental and resource changes coincide with dramatic biological, psychological, and social development. These developmental factors differ by sex and minority status, including racial/ethnic minorities and those who identify is LGBTQIA+. Unfortunately, lifestyle and cardiometabolic disease research has predominantly targeted adults middle-aged and older, and young-adulthood has been neglected.
The CML investigates the interactions between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic health. Specific inter-related interests include:
- Interactions between lifestyle behaviors and cardiometabolic disease etiology across the lifespan. With a particular interest in sedentary behavior and young adults.
- The development and interpretation of methodologies for assessing cardiometabolic health.
- The translation of basic and applied science into public health outcomes.
