Abstract
Unhealthy lifestyle behaviours are known modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This cross-sectional analysis aimed to describe lifestyle behaviours and CVD risk markers in young overweight and obese Australian women and explore associations between individual and combined lifestyle behaviours with CVD risk markers. Lifestyle behaviours assessed were diet quality, alcohol intake, physical activity, sitting time and smoking status, and were combined to generate a Healthy Lifestyle Score (HLS) (0–5). Objectively measured CVD risk markers were body mass index (BMI), %body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, and plasma cholesterol and triglycerides. Analysis included 49 women aged 18–35 years, with BMI 25.0 to 34.9 kg/m2. The mean ± SD Australian Recommended Food Score was 33.5 ± 9.3 points, alcohol 3.3 ± 2.4 standard drinks/day, physical activity 207 ± 225 min/week and sitting time 578 ± 213 min/day. All participants were non-smokers. The proportion of participants outside normal reference ranges was 83.7% for waist circumference (n = 41), blood pressure 0% (n = 0), total cholesterol 26.2% (n = 11), HDL cholesterol 38.6% (n = 17), LDL cholesterol 22.7% (n = 10), and triglycerides 4.2% (n = 2). Physical activity was inversely associated with body fat (β = −0.011%, p = 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (β = −0.010 mmHg, p = 0.031) and waist circumference (β = −0.013 cm, p = 0.029). Most participants (59.2%, n = 29) had a HLS ≤ 2. No significant associations were found between HLS and CVD risk markers. Insufficient physical activity was the primary lifestyle factor associated with increased CVD risk markers, which suggests interventions targeting physical activity in young women may potentially improve cardiovascular health.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of total and premature death in women globally [1,2]
Physical activity was inversely associated with body fat (β = −0.011%, p = 0.005), diastolic blood pressure (β = −0.010 mmHg, p = 0.031) and waist circumference (β = −0.013 cm, p = 0.029)
Unadjusted linear regression models were used to explore the association between individual lifestyle behaviours and each cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk marker (BMI, %body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, total, HDL and LDL cholesterol and triglycerides)
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of total and premature death in women globally [1,2]. Chomistek et al conducted a similar study in young and middle-aged women (27–44 years at baseline) exploring the association between a healthy lifestyle (no smoking, healthy BMI, higher diet quality, no/moderate alcohol intake, no/moderate television viewing and being physically active) and clinical CVD risk factors (diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia) over a 20-year follow-up [22]. They found that 46% of clinical CVD risk factor cases were attributable to a poor lifestyle [22]. It was hypothesised that the study population would have unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and elevated CVD risk markers, and that unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and a lower HLS would be associated with higher CVD risk
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