CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS AND BEHAVIOR LIFE-STYLES OF YOUNG-WOMEN -IMPLICATIONS FROM FINDINGS OF THE BOGALUSA HEART-STUDY

The primary purposes of this article are to highlight important issues related to cardiovascular risk factors and behavior :Lifestyles in yo ung women and to examine racial (black-white) differences in risk fact ors that relate to cardiovascular disease, In childhood, some girls sh ow cardiovascular risk factors of higher blood pressure levels, dyslip idemia, and obesity, all of which continue into young adulthood, Facto rs that contribute to abnormal risk factors are a high-saturated fat d iet, excess energy intake related to inactivity, and cigarette smoking , Trends of obesity are documented; and young white girls are continui ng to use tobacco, more so than boys and black girls, Although the ons et of clinical cardiovascular disease is delayed in women, the stage i s set in childhood for the development of early cardiovascular risk.