Nutrient Intake, Physical Activity, and CVD Risk Factors in Children: Project HeartBeat!
Background
Associations among dietary intake, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are inconsistent among male and female youth, possibly from lack of adjustment for pubertal status. The purpose of this report is to describe the associations of CVD risk factors among youth, adjusted for sexual maturation.
Methods
Data analyzed in 2007 from a sumsample of 556 children aged 8, 11, and 14 years in Project HeartBeat!, 1991–1993, provide cross-sectional patterns of CVD risk factors by age and gender, adjusting for sexual maturation, within dietary fat and physical activity categories.
Results
Girls consuming moderate- to high-fat diets were significantly less physically active than those consuming low-fat diets. Boys and girls consuming high-fat diets had higher saturated fat and cholesterol intakes than children in low-fat categories. Boys had no significant differences in physical activity, blood pressure, waist circumference, or plasma cholesterol levels across fat categories. Girls' plasma cholesterol levels showed no significant differences across fat categories. Dietary intake did not differ across moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) categories within gender. There were no differences in BMI by fat or MVPA categories for either gender. Girls' waist circumference differed significantly by fat category, and systolic blood pressure differed significantly across fat and MVPA categories. Boys' fifth-phase diastolic blood pressure was significantly different across MVPA categories.
Conclusions
Girls consuming atherogenic diets were significantly less physically active than those with low fat intakes, whereas boys consuming high-fat diets did not show differences in physical activity measures. With the prevalence of overweight rising among youth, the impact of atherogenic diets and sedentary lifestyles on CVD risk factors is of concern to public health professionals.
aMichael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
bPhysical Activity and Health Branch, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
cDivision for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia
dProgram in Nutrition and Health Sciences, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
eAdolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: R. Sue Day, PhD, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, University of Texas School of Public Health, 1200 Herman Pressler, RAS Room 916, Houston TX 77030
ABSTRACT