Introducción. Los problemas relacionados con los trastornos metabólicos se han incrementado en la actualidad en población joven. Promover un estilo de vida saludable en estudiantes universitarios puede ayudar a prevenir diabetes, enfermedades cardiovasculares y diferentes tipos de cáncer. Objetivo. Calcular el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) de universitarios para identificar la prevalencia de obesidad e hipertensión como factores de riesgo metabólico. Materiales y método. Se utilizó muestreo probabilístico aleatorio simple (n= 282, edad 19,1 ± 1,8, 54,6% mujeres, 48,5% hombres). Se realizaron mediciones de peso y estatura para calcular el IMC, circunferencia de cintura y presión arterial. Resultados. Los resultados promedio para mujeres y hombres respectivamente fueron: IMC 24,0 ±5,5 y 25,2 ±5,2 kg/m2 (p= 0,25); cintura 76,25 ± 11,87 y 82,32 ± 15,85 cm (p= 0,001), indicando un riesgo bajo en 73,1% de mujeres y 82,5% de hombres; y presión arterial 127,73/86,03 y 142,3/94,2 mmHg (p= 0,001). La probabilidad de tener hipertensión arterial fue mayor al tener una relación cintura/estatura (RCE) alterada en mujeres y hombres (OR=3,037; IC95% 1,385-6,657 y OR=3,664; IC95% 1,249-2,179, respectivamente). Conclusiones. La población universitaria presenta factores de riesgo que pueden derivar en enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en un futuro próximo, por lo cual es necesario modificar sus estilos de vida. La RCE es un buen predictor de riesgo de hipertensión en esta población.

The purpose of the study was to determine the efficacy of an educational program for change lifestyles related to risk factors on subjects with a disease or in the risk of suffering one or both chronic-degenerative diseases, implemented at a university in northwestern Mexico. A sample of 40 college students between 18 and 20 years was studied, indicating inclusión criteria. This study used a descriptive transversal design, with measurements before and after the intervention. Results showed hypertension incidence on elevated systolic pressure in 100% of cases, being statistically significative. Regarding the evaluation of program effectiveness on the Body Mass Index (BMI) and knowledge, statistically, no differences were found. However, within individual-analysis, reflected knowledge showed an increase; in the same way, there was an individual decrement on BMI. Even when the program does not show significative differences, had an impact on 73% of the sample. Applicated research it is a learning generator, thus, in this case, at the moment of design, apply, and evaluate the program, give us the opportunity to correct strategies and procedures that help to decrease risk factors and improves the college student health.

Background Unhealthy behaviors are associated with high cardiovascular disease risk. The study aimed to assess the cardiovascular behavioral metrics according to the AHA, in Northwest Mexican adolescents. Methods The study was cross-sectional. Demographics, health history, and smoking data were collected by questionnaires. Dietary intakes were estimated using a FFQ, and physical activity using the IPAQ. Measurements included blood pressure and anthropometrics. Results Participants were freshmen students (n = 228, 55.6% men, age = 18.5±0.4 y). A higher significant prevalence of men indicated working, playing sports, and having a family history of hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05). Men showed significantly higher weight, height, BMI, waist, blood pressure, and lower total physical activity and body fat (p < 0.05). In dietary intakes, significant differences by sex were observed in nuts and seeds (1.1±0.6 and 0.9±0.6 oz/week, p = 0.042) and processed meats (749.8±639 and 503.6± 300.3 g/week, p = 0.002), with only fish and shellfish reaching AHA recommendations (513.1±450.7 and 501.7±428 g/week, p = 0.671), for men and women, respectively. Significant differences in prevalence between ideal, intermediate, and poor levels were shown for systolic (65.2%, 24.8% and 10%, p = 0.001) and diastolic (69.1%, 21.3% and 9.6%, p = 0.01) blood pressure, physical activity (25.9%, 43.9% and 30.3%, p = 0.005), and primary diet score (27.8%, 70.4% and 1.7%, p = 0.022). For individual foods, the lower prevalence in the ideal level was for sugar-sweetened beverages (10%, p = 0.013) and processed meats (4.8%, p = 0.208). Conclusions Northwest Mexican adolescents represent a high-risk group for developing long-term unhealthy habits. Their diet and physical activities make them vulnerable to cardiovascular complications early in adulthood.

Background Lifestyle changes when transitioning from high-school to college expose students to unhealthy behaviors associated with high cardiovascular risk. The study aimed to assess the cardiovascular behavior metrics according to the AHA criteria, in freshman college adolescents from Northwest Mexico. Methods The study was cross-sectional. Demographics and health history were collected by questionnaires. Four behaviors were evaluated: diet quality using a duplicated FFQ, physical activity (PA) using the IPAQ, smoking, and body mass index (BMI) percentile; blood pressure was measured as a biological metric. Intakes were averaged and summed for each food group; sodium and saturated fat were calculated using the Mexican System of Food Equivalents or the USDA Database. Metrics were categorized into ideal, intermediate or poor level according to the AHA criteria. Diet outliers (± 3 SD) were trimmed and data was tested for normality. Mean±SD were calculated for continuous and percentages for categorical variables. Chi-square test compared the prevalence of demographic variables and levels of each cardiovascular metric by sex. Independent T-test evaluated differences in anthropometrics, dietary, and PA by sex, and the prevalence of ideal vs. non-ideal dietary intakes. Results Participants were n = 228, 55.6% men, age = 18.5±0.4 y. A higher prevalence of men indicated working, playing sports, and family history hypertriglyceridemia (p < 0.05). Men showed higher weight, height, BMI, waist, blood pressure, and lower PA and body fat (p < 0.05). Concerning diet quality, significant differences by sex were observed in nuts and seeds (1.1±0.6 and 0.9±0.6 oz/week, p = 0.042) and processed meats (749.8±639 and 503.6±300.3 g/week, p = 0.002); only fish and shellfish group reached AHA recommendations (513.1 ± 450.7 vs. 501.7 ± 428 g/week, p = 0.671) for men and women, respectively. Ideal level was reached by 70.9% participants for BMI percentile, 87% for smoking, 67.2% for blood pressure, 25.9% for PA, and 12.2% for diet score. Regarding food groups and nutrients, the lower prevalence in the ideal level was for sugar-sweetened beverages (10%, p = 0.013) and processed meats (4.8%, p = 0.208), and the highest for fish and shellfish (87.8%, p = 0.281) . Conclusions The diet and PA patterns of Northwest Mexican freshman adolescents make them a high-risk group for developing long-term unhealthy habits and cardiovascular complications early in adulthood.