Prevalence of coronary heart disease risk factors in active children, 7 to 12 years of age.

Forty-seven active boys and girls, 7 to 12 years of age, underwent a comprehensive medical and physical evaluation in order to assess their prevalence of single and multiple coronary heart disease risk factors. Each subject received a densiometric determination of body composition, blood lipid analysis, pulmonary function and a physical work capacity test to assess their peak oxygen consumption (Vo2max). Obesity (greater than 25% fat), elevated triglycerides (greater than 100 mg %) and the presence of Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia appear to be the more predominant risk factors. Twenty-nine (62%) of the children had at least one risk factor. Of these, seventeen had two or more risk factors with one subject having as many as five factors.