[Inappropriate eating habits are associated with hypercholesterolemia in adolescents]

Lifestyle changes in adolescents are characterized by a poor diet which means rich in fat and cholesterol, and it is associated with the development of dyslipidemia, which is considered one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adulthood.

To identify the association between risk eating habits and the presence of dyslipidemia in adolescents at the primary health care level.

Cross-sectional, analytical, and retrospective study, which included adolescents aged 10-17 years. Dyslipidemia was assessed by capillary blood sample (total cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL). To assess risk eating habits for dyslipidemia, the Risk Food Consumption Frequency Survey for Dyslipidaemias (EFCARD) was used. Nutritional status, central obesity, and acanthosis nigricans were evaluated.

Two thousand participants were included in the study, the prevalence of obesity was 16% and dyslipidemia was 11%, risk eating habits for dyslipidemia is present in 29% of the studied population. In multivariate analysis, inappropriate eating habits were associated with dyslipidemia, OR: 3.6 (CI 95%: 1.2 - 7.5). Obesity increased the risk, OR: 3.9 (CI 95%: 1.07 - 14.7), and the acanthosis nigricans with OR: 2.5 (CI95%: 0.8 - 8.3).

Obesity and risk eating habits with high consumption of saturated fats, cholesterol and sugars were associated with dyslipidemia in adolescent population.