title: Blood pressure, excess weight and level of physical activity in students of a public university.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High blood pressure, excess weight and sedentary lifestyle are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, and they are closely associated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the nutritional status, level of physical activity and blood pressure levels of students of Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study with a sample of 605 students (46.1% males and 53.9% females), with a mean age of 21.7 ± 3.7 years. The nutritional status was classified according to body mass index (BMI), and central adiposity according to waist circumference (WC). The level of physical activity was evaluated using the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Elevated blood pressure was defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of elevated blood pressure was 9.7%, and was higher among men. Excess weight (BMI > 25 kg/m(2)) was found in 18.2% of the students, with overweight and obesity rates of 15.2% and 3%, respectively. Abdominal obesity was found in 2.4% of the students regardless of gender, and sedentary lifestyle in 52%. The mean blood pressure increased with increasing BMI and WC. No association was found between the levels of physical activity and blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An association of increased body weight and waist circumference with higher blood pressure levels was observed among the participants. Instruments for an early assessment of the cardiovascular risk and preventive advice should be established for these young individuals.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil. carminhacmartins@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Maria do Carmo de Carvalho e
authors.initials: Mdo C
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Irapuá Ferreira
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Ricarte
authors.forename: Cláudio Henrique Lima
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Rodrigo Batista
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Vitor Brito da
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: André Bastos
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Veras
authors.forename: Manoel Dias de Souza
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult