Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents attending public schools.
BACKGROUND
Overweight in adolescence is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood.


OBJECTIVE
To study the association of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in overweight and normal-weight adolescents of both genders aged from 14 to 19 years, attending public schools.


METHODS
Case-control study including 163 overweight and 151 normal-weight adolescents. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between overweight and CRF (lipid profile, blood pressure and baseline insulin level). A set of CRF was defined for each individual, ranging from 0 (no risk factors) to 6 (all risk factors present).


RESULTS
Overweight adolescents (body mass index > 85th percentile) presented a higher frequency of CRF in comparison to the normal- weight group. The CRF associated with overweight were HDLc < 35 mg/dl (OR = 3.41; CI: 1.24-9.38), triglycerides > 150 mg/dl (OR = 3.04; CI: 1.01-9.13), abnormal baseline insulin levels > 15 µU/ml (OR = 8.65; CI: 4.03-18.56) and abnormal blood pressure (OR = 3.69; CI: 1.76-7.72). Among overweight adolescents, 22.09% had more than three risk factors, whereas this percentage dropped to 6.12% among normal-weight adolescents.


CONCLUSIONS
Overweight adolescents presented risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The need for programs and policies targeted at the diagnosis and treatment of this condition is pointed out in order to reduce the risks of morbidity and mortality in adulthood.
Cobayashi
Fernanda
F
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
Oliveira
Fernanda Luisa Ceragioli
FL
Escrivão
Maria Arlete Meil Schimith
MA
Daniela
Silveira
S
Taddei
José Augusto de Aguiar Carrazedo
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017150:Public Sector; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D055815:Young Adult