Associations between body height, body composition and cholesterol levels in middle-aged men. The coronary risk factor study in southern Sweden (CRISS)

Background: Short body height is associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease; however, mechanisms are not fully explained. In this study, associations between body height and serum cholesterol, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol) were investigated. Methods: Prospective cohort study of middle-aged men from Helsingborg, Sweden starting 1990. Two birth-year cohorts were invited at 37, 40 and 43 years of age; participation at baseline was 991 (68%). Serum and HDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Non-HDL cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The participants completed a questionnaire covering lifestyle variables. Results: There were statistically significant inverse correlations between body height and serum cholesterol (–0.11) and non-HDL cholesterol (–0.12). One standard deviation, 6.7 cm, taller body height was associated with a lower serum cholesterol (–0.12 mmol/l) and a lower non-HDL cholesterol (–0.13 mmol/l; p < 0.001). These associations remained when adjusted for BMI and WHR. Men with serum cholesterol equal to or above 6.5 mmol/l were significantly shorter (mean 178.71 cm) than men with serum cholesterol below 6.5 mmol/l (mean 179.71 cm). In addition, BMI and WHR were positively associated with serum and non-HDL cholesterol and inversely associated with HDL cholesterol. The change in cholesterol levels over the six-year follow-up was significantly associated to the change in BMI and WHR. Conclusions: Body height had an independent and inverse relation to serum cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol in middle-aged men, and the lipid pattern suggests that the underlying mechanism might be different from the traditional association between lipids and the metabolic syndrome. Although the direct clinical implication is limited, our results may help to explain the association between short height and risk of myocardial infarction.     

北京地区成年体检人群体重指数与血脂异常的相关性分析

目的研究北京地区18岁以上体检人群体重指数(BMI)与血脂异常发病率之间的关系。方法以2006年4月～2007年12月在北京协和医院接受常规体检的38462人为研究对象,按照不同年龄段分为8组,分别测定BMI及血清总胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平,分析BMI与血脂异常发病率之间的关系。结果北京地区成年体检者超重和肥胖的比例高达47.8%;BMI随年龄增加而逐渐增加,至51～60岁间达到高峰,以后逐渐下降。体检者高胆固醇血症、高甘油三酯血症、HDL-C降低和LDL-C增高发病率分别为7.0%、16.5%、12.5%和10.7%;血脂异常的发病率随BMI的增加而增高。肥胖、超重人群血脂异常的发病率明显高于消瘦和正常人群(P<0.05)。结论北京地区超重、肥胖和血脂异常的发病率近年来呈升高趋势。随着BMI的增加,血脂异常的发病率明显增高。     

Eating style, overeating and weight gain. A prospective 2-year follow-up study in a representative Dutch sample

This study examined which individuals are particularly at risk for developing overweight and whether there are behavioral lifestyle factors that may attenuate this susceptibility. A prospective study with a 2-year follow-up was conducted in a sample representative of the general population of The Netherlands (n=590). Body mass change (self-reported) was assessed in relation to overeating and change in physical activity (both self-reported), dietary restraint, emotional eating, and external eating, as assessed by the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. There was a consistent main (suppressive) effect of increased physical activity on BMI change. Only emotional eating and external eating moderated the relation between overeating and body mass change. However, the interaction effect of external eating became borderline significant with Yes or No meaningful weight gain (weight gain >3%) as dependent variable. It was concluded that whilst increasing physical activity may attenuate weight gain, particularly high emotional eaters seem at risk for developing overweight, because overconsumption seems to be more strongly related to weight gain in people with high degrees of emotional eating.     

Social desirability bias in self-reported dietary,physical activity and weight concerns measures in 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls: results from the Girls health Enrichment Multisite Studies (GEMS)

Background. Social desirability (SocD) may bias children's self-reported health behaviors and attitudes and confound relationships with health outcome measures.Methods. Ninety-five, 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls completed dietary recalls, a physical activity checklist, psychosocial questionnaires related to diet, and physical activity; and 3 days of physical activity monitoring. Potential SocD construct bias was investigated by comparing designated criterion measures of physical activity, beverage intake, and body mass index (BMI) with respective self-reported measures related to activity, beverage preferences, and body image and weight concerns in cross-sectional regression models. Potential confounding by SocD of associations between self-reported behaviors with BMI was assessed using change-in-coefficient regression analyses.Results. Controlling for age and BMI, overestimates of self-reported activity (P = 0.02), underestimates of sweetened beverage preferences (P = 0.02), and lower ratings of weight concerns and dieting behaviors (P's < 0.05) were related to SocD. Confounding by SocD of associations between self-reported physical activity and energy intake with BMI was found.Conclusions. In 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls, SocD was found to bias self-reports of diet and physical activity and confound associations between BMI and self-reported physical activity and energy intake. Methods to measure and control SocD bias are needed to reduce potential distortion of relationships between diet and physical activity and health outcomes.     

Leisure-time physical activity,cardiovascular risk factors and mortality during a 34-year follow-up in men

The inverse relationship between physical activity and mortality may be confounded by socioeconomic factors, cardiovascular risk factors and inverse causality. We investigated long-term association between self-reported regular physical activity and mortality in a socioeconomically homogeneous, initially healthy middle-aged (mean age 47) male cohort (the Helsinki Businessmen Study). In 1974, the men were assessed with questionnaires, clinical and laboratory examinations. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (including body mass index [BMI], age, cholesterol, glucose, systolic blood pressure and smoking) and details of physical activity of 782 men were available. Leisure time physical activity was collapsed into 3 categories: low (n = 148), moderate (n = 398) and high activity (n = 236). Physical activity was also briefly assessed in questionnaire surveys in 1985–1986 and in 2000. Total mortality up to 2007 was retrieved from the Central Population Register. Altogether 295 men (37.7%) died during the 34-year follow-up, and leisure-time physical activity was significantly related to mortality in a step-wise manner: 45.9% (n = 68), 37.7% (n = 150), and 32.6% (n = 77) died in the low, moderate, and high activity groups, respectively (P < 0.001). With high activity group as referent and adjusted for midlife CVD risk, perceived health and fitness at baseline, hazard ratio for total mortality was 1.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.90, 1.62), and 1.61 (95% confidence interval: 1.13, 2.30) in the moderate and low activity groups, respectively. Conclusion: During the 34-year follow-up, leisure-time physical activity in initially healthy middle-aged men had a graded association with reduced mortality that was independent of CVD risk, glucose and BMI.     

Breast feeding and blood lipid concentrations in male Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between breast feeding and blood lipid levels in adolescence. DESIGN: Population based prospective birth cohort study. SETTING: City of Pelotas, Brazil. SUBJECTS: All hospital births taking place in 1982; 79% of all males (n = 2250) were followed up for 18 years, and 2089 blood samples were available. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total cholesterol and fractions (very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)), LDL/HDL ratio, serum triglycerides. RESULTS: Three breast feeding variables were studied: total duration of breast feeding, duration of exclusive or predominant breast feeding, and ever compared with never breast fed. Adjusted analyses were controlled for family income, household assets index, maternal education, maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), skin colour, birth weight, gestational age, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and adolescent BMI, and behavioural variables (fat content of diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol drinking). Only one association reached borderline significance (p = 0.05): LDL cholesterol was slightly higher among never (mean 41.0 mg/dl; 95% CI 39.4 to 42.7) than among ever breast fed men (38.6 mg/dl; 95% CI 38.6 to 40.3), in the adjusted analyses. All other associations were not significant (p> or =0.09). There was no evidence of effect modification according to preterm status, intrauterine growth retardation, socioeconomic level, growth velocity in the first two years of life, or nutritional status at 2 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: There was no clear association between breast feeding duration and serum lipid concentrations at the age of 18 years in this sample of Brazilian men.     

The associations between current recommendation for physical activity and cardiovascular risks associated with obesity

OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between current recommended physical activity levels and body mass index (BMI) with some cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL-cholesterol (non-HDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, and blood pressure), general health score (GHQ12) and predicted coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. DESIGN: Further analysis of the cross-sectional Scottish Health Survey 1998 data. SUBJECTS: Five thousand four hundred and sixty adults 16-74 years of age. RESULTS: After controlling for some confounding factors, obesity was significantly associated with higher odds ratio (OR) for elevated cholesterol, CRP, systolic blood pressure, non-HDL-C and lower HDL-C (P<0.001), and with greater predicted CHD risk compared to BMI <25 kg/m(2). Regular self-reported physical activity was associated with smaller OR of lower HDL-C and higher CRP, and average predicted 10-year CHD risk in obese subjects, but did not eliminate the higher risk of the measured CVD risk factors in this group. The OR of these two risk factors were still high 4.39 and 2.67, respectively, when compared with those who were inactive with BMI <25 kg/m(2) (P<0.001). Those who reported being physically active had better GHQ scores in all BMI categories (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Reporting achievement of recommended physical activity levels may reduce some CVD risk factors, predicted CHD risk and improve psychosocial health, but may not eliminate the extra risk imposed by overweight/obesity. Therefore, increasing physical activity and reducing body weight should be considered to tackle CVD risk factors.     

The Effect of BMI on Blood Lipids and Dyslipidemia in Lactating Women

Background: This study aimed to explore the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and dyslipidemia and the optimal cut-off point for BMI to distinguish the risk of dyslipidemia in lactating women. Methods: A total of 2295 lactating women subjects were included in this study, all within 2 years postpartum. All samples were from “China Children and Lactating Mothers Nutritional Health Surveillance (2016–2017)”. BMI, blood lipids, demographic information, lifestyle habits, and other serum indicators were obtained in this survey. Generalized linear model, logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) and ROC curve analysis were used to evaluate the relationship among BMI, blood lipids, and dyslipidemia. Results: BMI in lactating women was positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but negatively correlated with high-density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.05). Higher BMI in lactating women was associated with higher ORs of dyslipidemia (hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high-LDL-cholesterolemia, low HDL-cholesterolemia) (p < 0.05). These associations were stable across age groups, breastfeeding child age (months), parity, physical activity level, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and hemoglobin. These factors did not interact with this relationship (p > 0.05). The optimal cut-off point for BMI was 24.85 kg/m² determined by using ROC analysis, which can distinguish the risk of dyslipidemia. Conclusions: BMI was positively correlated with risk of dyslipidemia. Maintaining an ideal weight may prevent dyslipidemia in lactating women, and BMI is recommended to be controlled below 24.85 kg/m².     

Lower estimates of δ-5 desaturase and elongase activity are related to adverse profiles for several metabolic risk factors in young Japanese women

Little is known about the relation between the activities of certain enzymes involved in endogenous fatty acid synthesis and metabolic risk factors, particularly in young adults and non-Western populations. In this cross-sectional study, we examined the associations between estimated desaturase and elongase activities and metabolic risk factors in young Japanese women. The subjects were 640 female Japanese dietetic students aged 18 to 22 years. Body height and weight, from which body mass index (BMI) was derived, waist circumference, and blood pressure were measured. Fasting blood samples were collected for biochemical and fatty acid measurements. Desaturase and elongase enzyme activities were estimated as the ratio of product to precursor of individual fatty acids in serum lipids. δ-9 desaturase activity was positively associated with BMI, diastolic blood pressure, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerol and was negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P ≤ .019). δ-6 desaturase activity showed positive associations with BMI, systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P ≤ .045). δ-5 desaturase activity showed independent negative associations with BMI, systolic blood pressure, triacylglycerol, insulin, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P ≤ .007). Elongase activity was associated negatively with BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and triacylglycerol and was positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P ≤ .026). In conclusion, increased estimates of δ-9 and δ-6 desaturase activity and decreased estimates of δ-5 desaturase and elongase activity were associated with adverse profiles for several metabolic risk factors in young Japanese women.     

Birth weight and body mass index in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood as predictors of blood pressure at age 36.

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between blood pressure at age 36, and birth weight and body mass index (BMI) in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. DESIGN--Prospective longitudinal survey over a period of 36 years in England, Scotland, and Wales. PARTICIPANTS--A nationally representative sample consisting of 3332 men and women born in one week in March 1946. Altogether 82% of these subjects had complete data for the present analysis. MAIN RESULTS--There was an inverse linear relation between birth weight and blood pressure at age 36. The relation between BMI and blood pressure at age 36 was initially inverse and became increasingly positive throughout life. Weight gain in childhood was positively associated with adult blood pressure, although less important than weight change in later life. The associations between blood pressure and birth weight, and blood pressure and adult BMI were independent, and together they accounted for no more than 4% of the variation in adult blood pressure. Both low birth weight (birth weight < or = 2.5kg) and high BMI at age 36 (BMI > 30kg/m2) were associated with hypertension (> 140/90mmHg), but the per cent population risk of hypertension attributable to low birth weight was less than 5%, and to high BMI less than 12%. CONCLUSIONS--Low birth weight and high BMI at age 36 were independently related to high blood pressure. A reduction in the percentage of low birthweight babies born in the fourth decade of this century would only have a negligible effect on the incidence of adult hypertension 30-40 years later.     

Variables associated with fibrinogen in a population-based study: interaction between smoking and age on fibrinogen concentration

The aim of the study was to assess the association between fibrinogen and other cardiovascular risk factors. A cross-sectional population-based study in Gerona (Spain) was designed, 1544 subjects (747 men, 797 women) participated. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and blood samples were obtained. Fibrinogen was measured by a coagulometric method. Smoking habits, alcohol consumption and physical activity practice were recorded by questionnaires. Fibrinogen was directly related to age, body mass index (BMI) and female gender and inversely to alcohol and moderate–heavy physical activity practice. Fibrinogen was also higher in men and young women who smoked. In the multivariate analysis, age (regression coefficient (RC): 1.33; standard error (SE): 0.13; unit = 1 year), female gender (RC: 12.24; SE: 3.56) and BMI (RC: 1.83; SE: 0.39; unit = 1 kg/m²) were directly associated with fibrinogen, whereas alcohol (RC: –0.04; SE: 0.01; unit = 1 g/d) was inversely associated. A statistically significant interaction between smoking and age was observed. Age was the strongest variable associated with fibrinogen and modifies the association between smoking and fibrinogen; the magnitude of this association increases with age.     

The association between worksite social support, diet, physical activity and body mass index

ObjectiveSocial support may be associated with improved diet and physical activity—determinants of overweight and obesity. Wellness programs increasingly target worksites. The aim was to evaluate the relationship between worksite social support and dietary behaviors, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI).MethodBaseline data were obtained on 2878 employees from 2005 to 2007 from 34 worksites through Promoting Activity and Changes in Eating, a group-randomized weight reduction intervention in Greater Seattle. Worksite social support, diet, physical activity, and BMI were assessed via self-reported questionnaire. Principal component analysis was applied to workgroup questions. To adjust for design effects, random effects models were employed.ResultsNo associations were found with worksite social support and BMI, or with many obesogenic behaviors. However, individuals with higher worksite social support had 14.3% higher (95% CI: 5.6%–23.7%) mean physical activity score and 4% higher (95% CI: 1%–7%) mean fruit and vegetable intake compared to individuals with one-unit lower support.ConclusionOur findings do not support a conclusive relationship between higher worksite social support and obesogenic behaviors, with the exception of physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake. Future studies are needed to confirm these relationships and evaluate how worksite social support impacts trial outcomes.     

The inverse relation of average population blood pressure and stroke mortality rates in the seven countries study: A paradox

This study attempts to explain the unexpected finding of an inverse population (ecological) relationship between mean systolic blood pressure levels and stroke death rates in 25 years follow-up of the Seven Countries Study, a cross-cultural study of cardiovascolar disease. Sixteen cohorts of all men aged 40–59 in seven countries (one cohort in the USA, two in Finland, one in the Netherlands, three in Italy, two in Croatia (former Yugoslavia), three in Serbia (former Yugoslavia), two in Greece, two in Japan) were surveyed from 1958 to 1964. Risk factors and personal characteristics were measured and follow-up for vital status and cause of death was then carried out over 25 years. Analyses were based on comparisons of mean levels of risk factors and death rates within and among the 16 cohorts. Mean entry population levels of systolic blood pressure among the cohorts were strongly and inversely related with their 25-year stroke death rates (R –0.55; CI –0.81 and –0.06; p = 0.0276). Within cohorts in contrast, the individual relation of blood pressure and stroke was strongly positive and significant in 14 of the 16 cohorts. Mean population levels of serum cholesterol were inversely and strongly related to stroke death rates (R –0.79; CI –0.92 and –0.46; p = 0.0003), while the partial correlation coefficient of systolic blood pressure, computed in models including serum cholesterol, became small and not significant (– 0.05; CI –0.55 and +0.48; p = 0.8537). Age at death for stroke (average 68.9 ± 7.1 years) was significantly higher than age at death from myocardial infarction and sudden death (average 65.8 ± 7.8 years) suggesting a competition effect between the conditions. Multivariate models including population average systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol provided no added explanation for the lack of direct and significant relationship of population blood pressure with stroke death rates. They were base on these variables: age at stroke death, age at myocardial infarction death or and sudden death, death rates from myocardial infarction and sudden death, the interaction term of systolic blood pressure with serum cholesterol and the multivariate coefficients for systolic blood pressure from Cox models run in individuals. Similar findings were obtained using diastolic instead of systolic blood pressure and excluding the Japanese cohorts. The paradox of the inverse ecologic relation of population blood pressure and stroke mortality and a direct relation for individual is only partly explained by the cofounding effect of population mean serum cholesterol levels. An effect of low cholesterol levels on excess stroke mortality cannot be excluded. A major limitation of the study was our inability to segregate thrombotic from heamorrhagic strokes.     

The predictive value of cholesterol in young men for anelevated cholesterol ten to twelve years later

We reviewed the charts of 322 randomly selected male Airforce personnel with no known illnesses, who were first seen between 1970–1974 when aged 20–24 years. The results of all annual determinations of fasting serum total cholesterol (TC) during the following 10–12 years ending 1980–1984 were compiled. The cut-off point separating ‘normal’ from ‘elevated’ TC was arbitrarily set at the upper decile. The predictive value of the TC at entry for an elevated TC on follow-up was calculated. Subjects aged 20–24 years with a single elevated serum TC on entry had a 25% probability of having a similarly elevated TC 10–12 years later. Most of the decrease in positive predictive value could be accounted for by intra-individual variation. Subjects with elevated TC on 2 of 3 annual examinations after entry had a 50% probability of having a similarly elevated TC on 2 of 3 annual examinations 7–10 years later. We conclude that tracking of individuals with elevated TC is improved by multiple sampling.     

Trends in educational inequalities in cardiovascular risk factors: A longitudinal study among 48,000 middle-aged Norwegian men and women

The aim of the study was to compare educational and gender specific trends in the classical cardiovascular risk factors body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and smoking in a Norwegian population during a period when the coronary heart disease mortality had just reached its peak in the late 1970s and 1980s. We used The Norwegian Counties study: a longitudinal study with three screenings on the same individuals in Oppland, Sogn␣og Fjordane and Finnmark counties in Norway in the period 1974–1988. All residents aged 35–49 were invited and 48,422 participated (89%) in the baseline screening. To estimate the cardiovascular␣risk factor change in individuals over time longitudinal statistical methods were used. BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure levels increased with age, while the amount of daily smokers decreased. The higher the educational level the lower the level of BMI, blood pressure, smoking and cholesterol. This pattern persisted through the whole study period. In men, however, the educational gradient in cholesterol diminished in the last screening. Among women there was an increase in inequality in systolic blood pressure, and for smoking there was a steeper decrease for men than women across all educational groups. The educational differences in classical cardiovascular risk factors persisted, except for BMI, cholesterol and daily smokers in men which tended to decrease.     

Relationship between total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the effects of physical exercise, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and body mass index

Despite the fact that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) is a part of total cholesterol (TC), the serum level of this portion has been reported to have no or only a weak relationship to the TC level. The present study assessed the relationship between HDLC and TC considering alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and body mass index (BMI) in 366 male workers classified into three groups by the habitual physical exercise. The results showed the different effects of alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and BMI on the level of HDLC among these three groups, and alcohol consumption lowered the LDLC level only in the exercise group. The closest relationship between HDLC and TC was seen in the exercise group, even after taking other factors into account. The result suggests that the HDLC level must be evaluated relative to the level of TC. As an indicator of serum lipid patterns the validity of the ratio of HDLC to TC (HDLC/TC) was discussed.     

Country of birth and body mass index: A national study of 2,000 immigrants in Sweden

The aim of this study is to analyse the influence of country of birth on body mass index (BMI) after adjustment for age, educational status, physical activity and smoking habits. Two random samples of men and women, aged 27–60, were used: 1,957 immigrants and 2,975 Swedes, both from 1996. Men and women were analysed in separate models by the use of linear regression. The BMI levels were significantly higher among Polish (0.8 BMI units) and Chilean (0.7 BMI units) men, and Chilean (1.9BMI units) and Turkish (1.5 BMI units) women than among their Swedish controls, after adjustment for all explanatory variables. Other intermediate risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as physical inactivity and daily smoking, were also more frequent among almost all the immigrant subgroups. This study shows a strong influence of country of birth on BMI even after adjustment for age, educational status, physical activity and smoking habits.     

Effects of Physical Examination and Diet Consultation on Serum Cholesterol and Health-behavior in the Korean Pilots Employed in Commercial Airline

An objective of this study is to search how physical examination and diet consultation can influence those risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The subjects were 326 pilots of the “B” airline company in Korea whose total cholesterol values were over 220 mg/dl on their regular physical examinations from April 2006 to December 2008. They were divided into two groups, one who had diet consultation (an intervention group) and a control group. The physical examination components used to each group were body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG). The behavioral, anthropometric and biomedical measurements were collected at each visit. This study compares and investigates the changes of serum cholesterol and also the health-behavior at each physical examination. Within the intervention group significant improvements were observed for total cholesterol, BMI (body mass index) and HDL (high density lipoprotein). The normalizing rates for cholesterol level to decrease down to lower than 200 mg/dl were 17.7% in intervention group and 8.7% in control group, which is statistically significantly higher among the intervention group. The odds ratio of diet consultation was 2.80 (95% CI=1.35–5.79), which indicates that it is a significantly contributing factor to normalize the serum cholesterol value down to lower than 200 mg/dl. Based on result, it is recommended to have regular physical examination and intensive management with diet and exercise consultation.     

Physical conditions affecting food consumption patterns

From the point of view of food counseling, we studied the coefficients of cross correlation in the relationship of physical conditions and eating behavior. For the 11 years from 1974 to 1984, we monitored 101 healthy middle-aged persons in terms of the food intake and several indicators of health. Of the various indicators, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), the diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol in the serum (TOTAL-C), beta-lipoprotein (beta-LIPO), and relative weight, all risk factors in atherosclerosis, were used as physical conditions. For the diet indicator, we used eight factors in the food consumption pattern. We calculated the correlation for individuals between these indicators. The clinical data, with the exception of systolic blood pressure, affected the food consumption pattern, and a mutual feedback between the physical conditions and the diet seemed to be possible. The correspondence for the food intake of individuals to physical conditions did not contradict current knowledge about nutrition.     

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Physical Activity Behavior Among Elementary School Personnel: Baseline Results from the ACTION! Worksite Wellness Program(*)

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of obesity is increasing during adulthood, there have been few assessments of obesity, cardiovascular risk factors, and levels of physical activity among adult elementary school staff. METHODS: Data were collected from 745 African-American and White female school personnel in a suburban school district in southeastern Louisiana as part of the baseline assessment before implementation of a program to improve eating and physical activity behaviors. Anthropometry, blood pressure, serum lipids and lipoproteins, and glucose were measured using established protocols. Physical activity was assessed by accelerometry. RESULTS: For both White and Black females, 30% were overweight (body mass index [BMI]) ≥25 kg/m(2) but <30 kg/m(2) ). Whereas 37% of White females were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) ), 61% of the Black females were obese. There was a positive association between BMI and other cardiovascular risk factors except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, where the association was negative. The mean number of minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was <1 minute per day and was lower for overweight and obese women than for normal weight women. CONCLUSIONS: School personnel in the study have adverse cardiovascular risk factors, including high rates of obesity and very low levels of physical activity. Because these individuals are often called upon to promote health for children, they are an important target population for wellness interventions.