Adverse Experiences, Protective Factors, and Obesity in Latinx and Hispanic Youths

Do youth self-reported protective factors moderate the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with body mass index (BMI) in Latinx and Hispanic youths?In this cross-sectional study of 5435 youths from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, ACEs were associated with increased BMI. Youth-reported self-coping skills and perceived caregiver support moderated the association of ACEs with BMI among Latinx and Hispanic youths, who had a greater number of ACEs and higher BMI than non-Hispanic youths.These findings suggest that ACEs may increase youth obesity risk, but promotion of resiliency-focused skills may help improve pediatric weight trajectories among disproportionately impacted populations.

Corresponding Authors: Shana Adise, PhD, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, 305 Sanford Drive, Room 280, Athens, GA, 30601 (shana.adise@uga.edu).

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