THE RELATION BETWEEN LONG-TERM EXPOSURE TO LIFE-STYLE DURING YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD AND RISK-FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE AT ADULTAGE

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between lifestyle (dietary in take of macronutrients, smoking behavior, alcohol consumption and dail y physical activity) from 13-29 years of age (''long-term exposure'') and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (lipoprotein levels, blo od pressure, body fatness, and body composition) at the age of 29 year s. Methods: The study was part of the Amsterdam Growth and Health Stud y, which began in 1977, and in which repeated measurements were carrie d out over a period of 17 years on 181 subjects (98 females and 83 mal es). Results: ''Long-term exposure'' to smoking behavior was inversely related to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels (p = 0.0 2) and positively to the total cholesterol/HDL ratio (p = 0.05). Both smoking behavior and alcohol consumption were inversely related to blo od pressure (p < 0.01). ''Long-term exposure'' to daily physical activ ity was inversely related to body fatness (p < 0.01), but for females positively to the waist/hip ratio (p < 0.01). No relationship was foun d between the dietary intake of macronutrients and the CVD risk factor s. When ''long-term exposure'' was limited to adolescence (13-16 years of age) only the relationship between daily physical activity and the waist/hip ratio for females remained significant (p < 0.01). Conclusi ons: ''Long-term'' smoking behavior was related to a high risk profile regarding hypercholesterolemia, but to a low risk profile regarding b lood pressure. The latter was also found for ''long-term'' alcohol con sumption. ''Long-term'' daily physical activity was related to a low r isk profile regarding body fatness; but for females, surprisingly, to a high risk profile regarding body fat distribution. (C) Society for A dolescent Medicine, 1997.