Relation of serum cholesterol level with body mass index and waist circumference in young adults

ABSTRACT

Background: Indians have one of the highest rates of coronary artery disease (CAD) in the world and are prone to CAD at a much younger age. The serum cholesterol level is a strong predictor of clinically evident cardiovascular diseases occurring 25 or more years later. The serum cholesterol level depends on many factors such as hereditary factors age, sex, dietary habits, environmental factors, and physical activity. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine any association of the serum cholesterol level of the subjects with their body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Materials and Methods: The present study comprised a total of 50 apparently healthy subjects (26 males and 24 females) aged 20–40 years. Subjects having major diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, endocrine diseases, CAD, or those taking any lipid-altering medication were excluded from the study. Standard methods of measurements for serum cholesterol, BMI, and WC were used. Results: The mean cholesterol level in males and females was 144.57 ± 47.52 mg/dl and 144.5 ± 45.65 mg/dl, respectively. Out of 50 cases, 6% of cases had hypercholesterolemia. According to BMI, 22% of cases were overweight and 20% were obese. According to WC cutoffs, 16% of males and 33% of females were obese. Conclusion: Elevated cholesterol concentration correlates positively with premature CAD. Early detection in these patients allows for earlier introduction of cholesterol-lowering therapy. Hypercholesterolemia and obesity have been proved to be individual risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Interventions at this age may be particularly effective to decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease later in life. Young adults should adopt a healthy lifestyle so as to avoid the risk of obesity and hypercholesterolemia in future life.