ABSTRACT
Understanding the extent of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among university youth students is essential for early detection and prevention. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the university students. This quantitative exploratory study has been carried out with a convenience sample of 403 undergraduate students at the University of Jordan. The results showed that male students were overweight and more obese than females [22% and 10.6%, respectively], students consume more tea and coffee, smoke, exercised irregularly, had stress and 17% of females had irregular sleep. The study concluded that the majority of university students are exposed to risk factors contributing to the disease
ABSTRACT
To investigate the association between high level serum leptin in male youths in relation to parental history of type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM] and body mass index [BMI]. This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Department of Medical Technology, Applied Science University, Amman, Jordan during the period from January to April 2009. One hundred and sixteen Jordanian male nursing students aged 18-24 years were divided into 4 groups according to parental history of T2DM and BMI. Fasting blood samples were measured for blood glucose, lipid profile, and serum leptin. Serum leptin levels in overweight and obese male youth diabetic patients with parental history of T2DM were significantly higher than in those overweight and obese without parental history [p<0.001]. Of the 116 subjects, 83 [71.6%] had a positive parental history of T2DM. Compared with other groups, significant [p<0.001] elevation was observed in the mean cholesterol and triglyceride levels of obese T2DM. No significant differences were detected in high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and blood glucose levels among all study groups. High levels of leptin in overweight and obese Jordanian male youths were more likely associated with a positive parental family history of T2DM than BMI factor