Cardiovascular risk factors, caloric intake and practice of physical activity in college students. A preliminary study.

Abstract

The aim of this investigation were to determine the level of physical activity practice and to define the presence of cardiovascular risk factors associated with body composition and caloric intake in college students. A total of 81 college students (38 and 41 females and males, respectively) were submitted to a complete evaluation that consisted of an analysis of food-intake behavior, measures of several body composition variables (height, weight, body mass index, fat and muscle mass, waist and hip circumferences, waist-hip ratio, and sum of 6 skinfolds), blood pressure assessment, and physical activity level calculation. The results show sex differences in blood pressure and body composition variables; although an optimal food-intake patterns, a high level of physical activity practice and the absence of cardiovascular risk factors seem to generate healthy profiles in this population. Key words:cardiovascular risk factors, food-intake patterns, physical activity, college students.