Emerging self-regulatory skills in childhood predict cardiometabolic risk in adolescence

Cardiometabolic risk (CMR) has increased among adolescents. A growing literature shows that childhood self-regulatory skills are associated with obesity and CMR. However, the developmental nature of self-regulation has not been considered in existing studies. Therefore, it is unclear how specific types of self-regulation (i.e., attentional, emotional, behavioral, cognitive) at different points in development, may differentially predict CMR. Using a multi-method longitudinal design, we assessed a sample of 117 children repeatedly between ages 2 and 16. At ages 2, 4, and 7 years, self-regulation (emotional, attentional, behavioral, and cognitive) skills that were hypothesized to have emerged were assessed. Adolescent CMR indicators were assessed at age 16. Latent profile analyses identified three profiles of adolescent CMR: Low Risk (41%), Dyslipidemia Risk (49.6%), and High Risk (9.4%). Distinct self-regulation skills at each childhood age predicted CMR during adolescence. Specifically, emotional regulation skills at ages 2 and 4, food-related behavioral regulation and attentional regulation at age 4, and attentional and cognitive regulation skills at age 7 predicted adolescent CMR. Self-regulation skills are modifiable, and thus, childhood interventions aimed at improving self-regulation could reduce CMR for decades to come. However, these results suggest that the multifaceted, developmental nature of self-regulation must be considered to most effectively inform preventive interventions aimed at lowering CMR. Additionally, our study highlights the need for additional research on adolescents who show elevations of CMR without meeting criteria for obesity.