engleski

Dietary habits of adolescents and their impact on cardiovascular risks

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the world, and their risks are increasingly occurring in childhood and adolescence. Their appearance is primarily associated with irregular dietary and lifestyle habits, and adolescence is the period of acquiring habits that often become pattern in later life periods. The aim of this study was to compare the dietary and lifestyle habits in the cases who were diagnosed one or more cardiovascular risk factors (elevated body mass index, blood pressure, dyslipidemia) with a control who did not reveal the presence of any cardiovascular risk. Participants were recruited through systematic medical examinations. The cases consisted of 17 (12 males and 5 females) adolescents aged 13 to 15 years, while the control consisted of 131 adolescents (60 female and 71 male) also aged 13 to 15 years. The assessment of dietary habits of each group was made using questionnaire, designed for this population. The results of dietary habits assessment indicated more regular dietary habits of control (more frequent breakfast consuming, as well as significantly more fruit and vegetables, grains and products, milk and milk products). However, the cases consumed fast food more frequently. The presence of one or more cardiovascular risk factors in the cases may therefore be related to improper dietary habits. The cases participated in individual nutrition education, and two months after the intervention, the dietary assessment was repeated. Results indicated positive changes in the measured cardiovascular risk CVR values due to the changes of dietary habits after the education on the principles of proper nutrition. A statistically significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed between the mean values of certain nutrients intake before and two months after the intervention. Additionally, two months after the intervention, there was a statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) reduction of mean values of body mass index, total cholesterol, LDL, triacylglycerols and systolic blood pressure, and an increase in the mean HDL value. Monitoring of cardiovascular risk values (blood lipids, blood pressure and body mass index) before and after the intervention has proven that the changes in dietary habits and the intake of certain nutrients lead to a significant improvement in the measured values of cardiovascular risks. The results of this study suggest a positive effect of education on proper nutrition, and point out the importance of interventions for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

cardiovascular risks; adolescents; intervention study

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