Objective of the present study: To analyse the usual dietary habits of Belgian adolescents from a high cardiovascular risk population. Methods: A food frequency questionnaire (57 items) was administered to the whole sample. Complementary questions speci®ed some types of food (eg fat content). A subgroup of 234 adolescents gave detailed information on portion size (picture book and food samples). Setting: Twenty-four secondary schools in the Belgian province of Luxembourg. Subjects: A total of 1526 adolescents (12 ± 17 y) selected by a multiclustered stage sampling (participation: 83.6%). Results: Respectively 46% and 60% of the adolescents did not eat fruit and vegetables daily. Most of the adolescents (72%) consumed at least one dairy product daily. The frequent consumption of chocolate and French fries indicated the strong cultural in¯uence on dietary habits while imported foods (like hamburgers) had little success. One-third of the adolescents (33%, n 509) drank alcohol at least once a week and this proportion rose to 57% in the oldest age group. Boys and girls differed signi®cantly in their diet, with girls choosing healthier foods. Dietary habits, in particular drinking habits, differed also signi®cantly between education levels, assessed by the learning option of the participants. The semi-quantitative questionnaire showed that two-thirds of the adolescents had a lipid intake (mainly saturated fatty acids) which exceeded 35% of the total caloric intake. Complex carbohydrates represented less than half of the total carbohydrates intake. Conclusion: The study of the diet of Belgian adolescents con®rmed the strong in¯uence of tradition, in particular on the consumption of high fat content foods. The promotion of healthy diet in adolescents should consider the cultural in¯uence, even for this young age group.

The objective of the present study was to analyze the pattern of oral contraceptive (OC) use in teenagers and to examine the relationship between OC use and other cardiovascular risk factors. The study was conducted in 24 Belgian secondary schools. Most students (1526 adolescents aged 12-17 years) agreed to participate (participation rate: 83.6%). Smoking, physical activity habits, menarche, and OC use were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. Total cholesterol level, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also measured. Fourteen per cent of mature girls (14%, n ϭ 92) were OC users. Two-thirds of them (66.3%, n ϭ 61) were taking OC which contained either gestodene or desogestrel. Blood pressure and BMI were similar for OC users and non-users. Total cholesterol level was significantly higher in OC users than in non-users (191 mg/dL versus 172 mg/dL). Logistic regression model confirmed the significant influence of OC use on total cholesterol level (OR ϭ 3.08). OC users were also often smokers (39% versus 20% for non-users). In conclusion, the present study has found significant relationships between OC use and cardiovascular risk factors i.e., high total cholesterol and smoking. The first implication is a need for further research on lipoprotein profile in young OC users. Secondly, the combined use of OC and smoking in teenagers calls for preventive actions.

This survey showed that these GPs underestimated the CV burden, lacked a systematic approach to global risk assessment and used to focus on cholesterol treatment rather than on global CV risk management.

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