Diet, lifestyle and heart health parameters in adolescent

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in Canada. Although it occurs later in life it has pediatric roots. The main objective of the study was to undertake initial evaluation of CHD risk factors, diet and lifestyle in adolescents. Total of 182 greater Toronto-based students between age 16 and 18 years old, from different ethnic groups were studied. Method for data collection of biochemical, anthropometric, diet and lifestyle parameters were drawn from the Canadian multicentre Study of Health Assessment and Risk in Ethnic Groups (SHARE), modified for the age and the purpose of this study. CHD risk factors were found to be present in investigated adolescent group from the Greater Toronto Area high schools with distribution that is most cases sex specific. Fasting blood glucose could be an useful marker to detect presence of cluster of CHD risk factor that are associated with metabolic syndrome, therefore increased risk of developing CHD.