A Brief Review of the Physical activity, Stress, and Metabolic Syndrome Relationship in Youth: Consideration of Socioeconomic Position as a Chronic Stressor

Childhood obesity and physical inactivity continue to be critical public health concerns. The global magnitude of these issues warrants consideration of the practical details of the relationships between these variables, as well as the compounding effects of the multiple antecedents that contribute to these issues. The influence of psychosocial stress on health is well-acknowledged, although operationalized in a variety of ways across the pediatric literature. Further, socioeconomic position is frequently considered as an independent determinant of health outcomes, making it difficult to appreciate the ubiquity and pervasiveness of the construct. This review aims to briefly review the current understanding of physical activity, psychosocial stress, and metabolic health in youth, as well as the growing body of literature which considers the relationships between these variables. Of particular merit in this review is the consideration of socioeconomic position as a chronic stressor and the confounding influence it can have on physical activity levels.