Risk factors for chronic diseases in Norwegian school children: Preliminary findings of a baseline survey as part of an intervention study (The Oslo Youth Study)

Some preliminary results from a baseline screening as part of an intervention study in Norwegian school children are presented. The survey was part of the International “Know Your Body” program. The Oslo Youth Study (Kjenn Din Kropp), which is financed by the Norwegian Cancer Society, is one of the three national projects of the multicenter, WHO Collaborative Study on Health Promotion in Youth. The three studies also follow closely the protocol of the Study of the Precursors of Atherosclerosis, issued by WHO. Eight hundred fifty-six pupils (approximately 82% of the total eligible population aged 11–15 years) were examined with regard to their health knowledge, attitudes, and behavior (supervised questionnaire), height, weight, triceps skinfold thickness, blood pressure, aerobic work capacity (indirect method), total serum cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, fasting triglycerides, thiocyanate, and hematological parameters.