Study on health risk factors as a basis to implement programs that promote a nutritional culture in students of the la Sabana University.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays the importance of lifestyles in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome has been largely accertained. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our work is to implement programs that promote a nutritional culture in adolescents and young adults of the La Sabana University. METHODS: The methodology entailed, after the corresponding informed consent, taking measures of the triceps and supraescapular skinfolds, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), lean mass, and fat mass. Fasting blood samples were also taken to quantify cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). RESULTS: The results obtained show that of the 165 students, 10.3% were underweight, 13.93% were overweight and 0.6% were obese. With regards to gender, 4.8% of the men and 9% of the women were overweight, 3% of the men and 7.2% of the women were underweight, and 0.6% of the women were obese. The blood chemistry showed that 30% had hypercholesterolemia, 18% hypertriglyceridemia, 17% reported low HDL levels and 67% reported high LDL levels. Of all the cases studied, 40% are at risk of a metabolic syndrome. 60% claimed not to practice any physical activity - especially women who reported 44.70%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings have allowed us at the institution to implement a culture of healthy habits. The have also allowed us to identify students with risk factors for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. This is why the cardiometabolic monitoring and control based on healthy eating and physical activity are important.

Identification of metabolic indicators for cardiovascular risk in schoolchildren

Objective: CardioVascular Disease (CVD) is one of the most important causes of death worldwide affecting people at younger ages every year. The purpose of this study was to identify the metabolic indicators for cardiovascular risk factors in primary school students from Mexico and Colombia. Methods: A clinical, prospective, cross-sectional and comparative study was conducted in Mexico and Colombia to contrast anthropometric measurements, biochemical and dietetic determinations and physical activity. Results: The Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) and the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WtHR) showed significant differences (p≤0.001) between Mexico and Colombia (0.8 ± 0.1 versus 0.5 ± 0.1) and (0.4 ± 0.06 vs. 0.78 ± 0.04) respectively. The Automatic Linear Modeling showed that the main predictors for cholesterol levels were WtHR, MonoUnsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA) and lipids ingestion. For glucose there were four main predictors: WHR, carbohydrates, MUFA and Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA). For triglycerides the pedictors were Products of Animal Origin (PAO), BMI, waist circumference, lipids and cholesterol ingestion and Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP). The Weight Estimation tests weighted per gender showed that for glucose levels the main determinants were carbohydrates, MUFA and oils; for cholesterol these were MUFA, PUFA and oils; and for LDL the significant variables were proteins, SFA, PAO and sugars; and last, for triglycerides the main variables were BMI, cholesterol and vegetables. Conclusions: Mexico has higher values in almost all items of cardiovascular risk in children, but both countries have significant percentages of obesity and the population free of cardiovascular risk is minimal.