[Dyslipidemia in schoolchildren with excess weight from Jujuy assessed by the program of school health].

BACKGROUND

Excess weight (EW) and alterations in lipid metabolism constitute risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adults and children. Prevalence of dyslipidemia in schoolchildren from Jujuy with EW is analyzed in this study.

METHODS

Cross-sectional descriptive study of 891 schoolchildren 10-14 years old (367 girls; 524 boys) from the province of Jujuy (Northwestern Argentina). Prevalence of dyslipidemia for Overweight (OW) and Obesity (OB) were calculated, according to the International Obesity Task Force cut-off points. Prevalence of lipid alterations were analyzed and 7 dyslipidemic profiles were established. Comparisons and associations between variables were analyzed by Chi-square test. Crude and adjusted odds ratio were estimated from a logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Regardless of sex and nutritional status, 13.7%, 21.8%, and 16.5% of schoolchildren showed high values of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol, respectively, and 20.3% had low HDL cholesterol. Significantly higher values of HDL cholesterol were found in OW, and of triglycerides in OB. A significant association was recorded between OB and high triglycerides. Schoolchildren with OB have a 54% more chances of showing at least one lipid alteration.

CONCLUSION

EW, and especially OB, constitutes an important risk factor in the development of dyslipidemia in schoolchildren from Jujuy.