title: BMI, lipid profile, physical fitness and smoking habits of young male adults and the association with parental education.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have focused on the potential relationship between parental educational level and cardiovascular risk factors among young male adults. The aim of this study was to investigate cardiovascular disease risk factors among young men and whether body mass index (BMI), serum lipids, physical fitness and smoking habits were related to paternal and maternal education.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study 750 18- to 26-year-old male recruits participated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear regression analyses showed that the paternal education was inversely associated with BMI (P = 0.035) and the concentration of total cholesterol (P = 0.003) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P = 0.014). Running performance was inversely related to cigarette smoking (P = 0.022) and the concentration of triacylglycerol (P = 0.001). BMI was positively related to the concentration of LDL (P = 0.002), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (P < 0.001) and inversely related to the concentration of HDL (P < 0.001), running performance (P < 0.001) and muscular strength (P = 0.011). Recruits with low BMI, both high and low fitness, had a significantly better lipid profile than recruits with high BMI and low fitness (P <or= 0.016). A lower concentration of triacylglycerol (P <or= 0.001) and a higher concentration of HDL (P = 0.034) were further shown among recruits with high BMI/high fit compared to recruits with high BMI/low fit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High paternal educational level was associated with a lower BMI and a better lipid profile among young adult men. Furthermore, men with low BMI, both high and low fit, had a better lipid profile than those with high BMI/low fit. Men with high BMI/high fit had a better lipid profile that those with high BMI/low fit.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian School of Hotel Management, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway. tonje.h.stea@uia.no
authors.forename: Tonje Holte
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Stea
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wandel
authors.forename: Mohammad Azam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.forename: Solveig
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uglem
authors.forename: Wenche
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Frølich
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult