BLOOD-PRESSURE, LIPIDS, LIPOPROTEINS, BODY-FAT AND PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY OF SINGAPORE CHILDREN

Objective: To determine body composition, coronary risk factors and ph ysical activity and the inter-relationships of these variables in Sing aporean school children. Methodology: This study examined 1681 childre n (784 boys and 897 girls) from eight primary and seven secondary scho ols to determine percentiles for body stature and composition, blood p ressure, lipids/lipoproteins and blood glucose by gender for three age divisions. An exercise and leisure pursuit questionnaire was administ ered to ascertain self-reported physical activity patterns. Anthropome tric data and blood pressure readings were taken. capillary blood was drawn from each child via finger prick sampling following an overnight fast. The concentrations of total cholesterol (TCHOL), triglyceride ( TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and glucose (GLU) we re determined from plasma using a dry chemistry analyser. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low-density lipoprotein choleste rol (VLDL) and the TCHOL/HDL-C ratio were determined by calculation. R esults: While 47.7% of boys and 22.0% of girls disclosed active lifest yles, differences between the active and nan-active children were foun d in coronary risk factors TCHOL, LDL-C, TG, TCHOL/HDL-C and per cent body fat. No differences were shown between the two groups in HDL-C, G LU and blood pressure. There was a high correlation between the variou s measures of body composition with the highest correlation (r=0.806, P<0.001) found between body mass index (BMI) and waist measurements. C onclusions: Children in this study who reported no activity or relativ ely little activity were found to have TCHOL, LDL-C, TG, TCHOL/HDL-C a nd per cent body fat that were higher than those who reported moderate ly high or vigorous physical activity patterns.