[Variations in blood lipid levels in adolescents: relation to changes in lifestyle. A longitudinal approach]

In order to assess the relationship between changes in life style (taking up smoking, giving up sporting activity) and plasma lipids, 3,650 young subjects aged 14 to 18 years, from the Lorraine region, were examined on two occasions separated by a 5 year interval. At the second examination, 39% of the boys and 33.8% of the girls had taken up smoking, and 52% of the boys and 68% of the girls had given up strenuous physical activity. These changes in life style were associated with a significant change in total cholesterol in boys and also of triglycerides after adjustment of values for age and variation in body mass: starting smoking or the giving up of sporting activities was associated with a greater increase in cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These results underline need for increasing efforts in the prevention of cardiovascular disease in young subjects, and emphasise the importance of maintaining physical activity and of not smoking.