Effect of Lifestyle on Metabolic Syndrome in Turkish Children and Adolescents

Objective: The study aimed to determine the effect of lifestyle factors such as diets and physical activity on metabolic syndrome in children. Methodology: Four hundred individuals aged 6 to 18 participated in the study. Waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, blood HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting insulin and glucose levels of children were measured. International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria was used in defining metabolic syndrome in children. Three-day nutrition consumption record and a food consumption frequency questionnaire was applied in order to determine the food habits. Results: Incidence of metabolic syndrome in the sample population was found to be 1.8%. It was observed to be significantly lower in the group where triglyceride level, one of the components of metabolic syndrome, is 35% of the rate of energy originating from fat in comparison with the group with a level of 25-35% (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between dietary fructose with high blood triglycerides and calcium intake and abdominal obesity. It was found out that fasting insulin averages and waist circumferences of individuals who use computers and watch TV for 4 hours or more everyday were significantly higher than those who spend less time with computers or TV (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicated that diets and physical activities affect metabolic syndrome components in children. Conducting long-term and multi-directional studies will definitely be very helpful to have a better understanding of the effect of diets and their components on metabolic syndrome.Wo

Dietary Habits Contributing to the Cancer Prevention Among Health College Students in Turkey

This descriptive study was made to evaluate the dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention of 319 health college students. Data collection form included questions about demographic characteristics and 33 statements which evaluate dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention. Among the students, 56.1% consumed fast food outside the home/dormitory twice a week or more and 47% never exercised. Moreover, 63.9% of the students reported that their dietary habits changed negatively and 69% stated that their fruit and vegetable consumption decreased after starting the health college. The students mostly paid attention to preserving food and water consumption while they paid least attention to maintaining healthy weight and whole grain consumption. Female students, those who paid attention to the amount and calorie of the food they consumed, students who did not consume fast food, and students who exercised twice a week or three times a week had better dietary habits contributing to cancer prevention (p<0.05). According to these results we recommend that interventions which will reduce fast food consumption and increase fruit and vegetable consumption and exercising in university students should be implemented. For this purpose, appropriate conditions for preparing and preserving healthy food should be provided as well as increasing the frequency of vegetable containing meals and providing fruits and salads in every meal at school cafeterias