Prevalence of obesity and its association with blood pressure, serum lipids and selected lifestyles in a Puerto Rican population of adolescents 12-16 years of age.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the prevalence of obesity and determine its association with blood pressure, serum lipids and lifestyles in adolescents attending a public junior-high school in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

METHODS

During the 1999-2000 academic school year, 352 students, ranging in age from 12 years to 16 years, were screened for weight, height, and blood pressure. A sub-sample of voluntary adolescents (n = 26) was screened for serum lipids and lifestyles were assessed using a standardized questionnaire.

RESULTS

The prevalence of level I obesity and level II obesity among 12 to 16 years old adolescents were 33.2% and 14.2%, respectively. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in obese than in non-obese adolescents (p < .001). There were no significant differences in serum lipids between the study groups (p > .05). However, the obese group showed higher median levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides. The study group reported engaging in hazardous lifestyles (alcohol intake, smoking, and unhealthy eating patterns), but no real differences in lifestyles were found between obese and non-obese groups (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

A high prevalence of level I and level II obesity was found in this population. In addition, significant positive correlations between blood pressure and body mass index were observed. This study underscores the need to assess the burden of obesity in Puerto Rico in order to develop community intervention strategies encouraging early detection and conduct modification towards healthier lifestyles.