The 22-year follow-up of the “Biopsychosocial Determinants of Adolescent Obesity-Cardiovascular Risk” project began subject recruitment in May 2015. The young adults are part of a longitudinal cohort in Santiago, Chile that began while they were in their infancy and continued with intensive studies through the first year of life with follow-ups at 5 and 10 years of age as well as several times during their adolescence.
The 22-year follow-up includes a physical examination conducted by a physician, a fasting blood draw to determine cholesterol and blood sugar levels, measurement of appetite-regulating hormones and inflammation markers. The evaluation also contains a measurement of body composition including the monitoring of the sleep/wake cycle and physical activity as well as dietary recall. Ultrasounds were also taken for determining fatty-liver disease.
While the project is observational by design, all participants receive a detailed report of their weight and health status, as well as referrals to specialists when needed. To date, over 150 participants have been evaluated. Over the course of the 4-year-project, 1,100 Chilean young adults will be evaluated.