title: [Effects of an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in university students].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interventions aiming to reduce obesity and sedentary behaviors in young adults could be a feasible and effective approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of a lifestyle-based intervention on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty university students aged 21 ± 1 years (n = 44 females) took part on a 17 weeks lifestyle intervention consisting in education about healthy lifestyles and physical training, during a curricular course about health promotion and healthy lifestyles. At baseline and at the end of the intervention participants completed a lifestyles questionnaire and provided fasting blood samples to quantify glucose and lipids profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the intervention significant reductions in the prevalence of hyperglycemia (-10.0%), high blood pressure (-16.7%) and physical inactivity (-26.7%) were observed. Moreover, a significant reduction in body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol were observed after intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyles is an effective way of reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leiva O
authors.forename: María Adela
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Martínez S
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celis-Morales
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult