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The effects of habitual physical activity (PA) on the metabolic syndrome (MS) in young adult and women are evaluated. It is concluded that among adults between 18 and 40 years, PA is inversely associated with the presence of the MS in men and of individual MS components in women.

The average at menarche of United States girls has reduced than before due to the increase in childhood body mass index [BMI]. The Fels Longitudinal Study shows that there is no evidence of decline in the age at menarche due to the concurrent increase in BMI at any point in childhood and that population-level shift in BMI and the timing of menarche are largely independent.

As the leading cause of chronic disease mortality in developed nations, cardiovascular disease is a widely prevalent condition that is integral to evaluation of aging populations. Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes have been associated with adulthood body composition-namely excess body fat, altered lipid levels and elevated blood pressures. The Fels Longitudinal Study conducted at the Lifespan Health Research Center at Wright State University's School of Medicine has examined these same health status indicators-body composition, blood pressure, lipids, maturation, and hormones-during early life and their relationships to developing risk factors for these chronic diseases in adulthood. Research conducted during the past 10 years has shown health status indicators to track over time from childhood to adulthood. Furthermore, chronic disease risk factors attained during childhood, adolescence or early adulthood may represent an early warning system for future risk of developing cardiovascular disease.