Lifestyle and Cardiovascular Health in School Adolescents from Sao Paulo

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. There is evidence demonstrating the association of this disease with cardiovascular risk factors related to lifestyle, incorporated in adolescence. Objective: To identify, in adolescents, the prevalence of overweight and lifestyle factors associated with risk for developing cardiovascular diseases, and the factors that influence them. Methods: It was conducted an observational study of individual cross-sectional data with adolescents enrolled in public and private schools in Sao Paulo, covering grades 5 to 8 of elementary school. The information was obtained through the application of an anonymous questionnaire and weight and height measurements. Results: 2,125 adolescents with mean age of 12.9 years were studied. From the total sample: 14.4% to 32.1% did not practice sports or competitions; 56.0% to 73.6% remained more than two hours watching TV, playing video game or working on the computer; approximately 80% consumed fruits and vegetables improperly; 34.9% to 45.3% reported high salt consumption; and 60.9% to 74.4% reported consumption of soft drinks. Prevalence of overweight ranged from 18.7% to 41.6%. Conclusion: In school adolescents, this study found high prevalence of risk factors associated with the development of cardiovascular disease in adults. Further studies are required to better understand how these risk factors are related and thus enable the implementation of preventive measures in adolescence in order to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2010; [online]. ahead print, PP.0-0)