Profile of Selected Lifestyle Disease Risk Factors among Adolescent School Students in an Industrial Area of Vellore District, Tamil Nadu.

ABSTRACT

Background: Lifestyle or non-communicable diseasesare associated with long-term health consequences andtremendous socioeconomic implications. Early identification of risk factors with lifestyle modification is themost effective measure of prevention and control.Schools offer unique opportunity for comprehensiveassessment of risk factors and initiation of healthybehaviours. Aim and Objectives: This study was aimedto assess the risk factor profile for lifestyle diseasesamong adolescent school students in Ranipet, Velloredistrict, Tamil Nadu and to identify the sociodemographic factors associated with above risk factorsamong students. Material and Methods: A schoolbased, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conductedamong students aged 13 to 17 years, from 3 randomlyselected schools (2 Private; 1 Government) in Ranipet,Vellore district, between June and September 2018. Apretested, semi-structured, self-administeredquestionnaire and standardized instruments were usedto assess risk factors. Results: A total of 932 studentsparticipated. Fruit and vegetable consumption andphysical activity practices were sub-optimal comparedto recommended guidelines. Males reported betterdietary and physical activity practices compared tofemales (p<0.05). 20% of adolescents were overweightand 17.4% had elevated Blood Pressure (BP). A higherproportion of private school students had overweightand elevated BP(p<0.05). Conclusion: High prevalenceof overweight and elevated BP among adolescentssignifies need for intense health promotion measuresand reorienting school health services towardsprevention of lifestyle diseases. Parents, teachers andstudents should be sensitised to the impact ofbehavioural and physical risk factors on long-termmorbidity and be equipped with knowledge and trainingto prevent or modify these risk factors.