Abstract
Risk factors (R.F.) of atherosclerosis include hypercholesterolemla, hypertension, obesity, lack of physical exercise and smoking. R.F. screening in children is now common, but intervention is rare. This study evaluated the change between results of two control screening sessions and two post education screenings three and six months later. Education was limited to seven hours of group lectures. Subjects were 199 entire families of life underwriters. Participants' ages ranged from one to 70 years, with a large concentration of children (48% of 715 subjects). The following data were found. Weight Increased slightly in young children but fell significantly in older children and adults. Skin fold thickness decreased significantly in all male groups, and increased significantly in all female groups early but later fell significantly. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure fell significantly in all groups with a mean decrease of 5.5 and 4.3 mm Hg respectively. Serum cholesterol decreased significantly in all age groups with the maximum mean decrease occurring in the teenage female group (26mgm%) and young adult male group (21mgm%). Cholesterol continued to decrease with time. Participants decreased smoking and increased exercise. Results indicate that minor educational efforts can produce significant long term improvement of R.F. in families.
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Goldberg, S., Allen, H., Friedman, G. et al. EFFECT OF EDUCATION ON THE ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK FACTORS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS. Pediatr Res 8, 343 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00019
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197404000-00019