title: Eating habits and presence of cardiovascular risks in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The changes in the eating habits associated with physical inactivity are directly related to the increase in the prevalence of obesity and associated diseases such as diabetes mellitus (DM), metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the frequency of consumption of some food groups (snacks, fruits, vegetables and candies), physical exercise, nutritional classification and biochemical profile in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  After the approval of the Ethics Committee, we studied 882 schoolchildren ranging between 6 and 10 years of age. Biochemical and anthropometric evaluations were performed and questionnaires were used in order to check the eating habits and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that we may relate the consumption of snacks, fruits, vegetables or candies with modifications in the glycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-c, and LDL-c but we did not observe association with the nutritional classification. It is noteworthy to say that almost 50% of the studied children were overweight or obese and many presented alterations in the lipid and glucose levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results also show that many children have abnormal levels of lipids and glycemia and a great number of them are classified as overweight or obese. In this context, we can say that urgent approaches are needed to be carried out by a multidisciplinary team in order to improve the diet and reduces the risk factors in this population of children and prevent secondary diseases in adolescence and adulthood.
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Av. Higino Muzzi Filho 1001, Marília 15525-902, SP, Brazil.|Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC), Av. Castro Alves, 62, Marília 17506-000, SP, Brazil, Mobile: +(55 14) 99655-3190.
authors: Sandra Maria
authors: SM
authors: Barbalho
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Lia Carolina Sato
authors: LCS
authors: Fontana
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Eder Francisco Ribeiro
authors: EFR
authors: Finalli
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Karla Aparecida
authors: KA
authors: Martuchi
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Marcelle Caetano
authors: MC
authors: Ferreira
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Marcio Emílio Paiva
authors: MEP
authors: Filho
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Sineide Virginia da Conceição
authors: SVDC
authors: Cerri
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Vivianne
authors: V
authors: Sasaki
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Ana Paula Machado
authors: APM
authors: Spada
authors: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Marília, SP, Brazil.|Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC), Marília, SP, Brazil.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Oshiiwa
authors: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Marília, SP, Brazil.
authors: Mirele Cristine Batista Dos
authors: MCBD
authors: Santos
authors: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), Marília, SP, Brazil.
authors: Leticia Maria
authors: LM
authors: Pescinini-Salzedas
authors: Nutritionist, Lins, SP, Brazil.
authors: Lucas Silva
authors: LS
authors: Bragante
keywords: children; diet; glycemia; lipids; obesity