Dietary habits and risk factors for atherosclerosis in students from Bento Gonçalves (state of Rio Grande do Sul).
BACKGROUND
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease begins its process in early childhood and is influenced throughout life by genetic factors and environmental exposure to potentially modifiable risk factors.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis with emphasis on dietary habits in a predominantly Italian colonization town.


METHODS
Population-based cross sectional study, involving 590 primary school students aged between 9 and 18 years, with a cluster sample. The following were collected: identification data, family history and personal history, and information regarding students' eating habits. Dietary habits considered inappropriate included: consumption of fast food, sugary snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages and animal fats four or more times a week, and fruits, green vegetables, and leguminous vegetables less than four times a week.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight among students was 24.6% (n = 145), high blood pressure, 11.1% (n = 65); passive smoking, 35.4% (n = 208); sedentary lifestyle, 52.3% (n = 306), family history of 1st degree disease: hypertension, 21.4%, obesity 36.5%. Food items eaten four or more times a week: fast food, 70.3% (n = 411); sugary snacks, 42.7% (n = 252), sugar-sweetened beverages, 71% (n = 419), and animal fats, 24.4% (n = 143). Food items eaten less than four times a week: fruits, 36.8% (n = 215), green vegetables, 49.5% (n = 292) and leguminous vegetables, 63.7% (n = 374).


CONCLUSIONS
Interventions are needed to promote changes in students' eating habits: higher level of consumption of fruits, green vegetables and leguminous vegetables, and increased level of physical activity.
Cimadon
Hosana Maria Speranza
HM
Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul/Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS.
Geremia
Renata
R
Pellanda
Lucia Campos
LC
D000293:Adolescent; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors