title: Lipid profile and cardiovascular risk factors among first-year Brazilian university students in São Paulo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surveillance of cardiovascular risk factors has been recommended worldwide. The current study is aimed to estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among first-year students from a public university in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 56 first-year students, of both genders, was performed. Information about demographic characteristics, family history of chronic diseases, smoking, and physical activity was obtained by means of a standardised questionnaire. Anthropometrical parameters (BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage), metabolic parameters (glycaemia, serum lipid profile), and dietary data (total energy intake, percentage of total energy from macronutrients, cholesterol and dietary fiber) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The risk of cardiovascular diseases was characterised by family history of cardiovascular diseases (44.6%), smoking (10.7%), physical inactivity (35.7%), borderline high total cholesterol and LDL-c levels (16.1% and 5.4, respectively), decreased HDL-c levels (8.9%), increased triglyceride levels (8.9%), and overweight and obesity (17.8% and 7.1%, respectively). The diet of the students was inadequate: it was high in fat and protein, and low in carbohydrate and dietary fibre.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in young adults draws attention to the need to adopt preventive plans in the university setting.
authors: Division of Nutrition, Department of Preventive Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. jzemdegs@unifesp.br
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Costa Silva Zemdegs
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Barreto Corsi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: De Castro Coelho
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Duarte Pimentel
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Toyomi Hirai
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sachs
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D008055:Lipids