Serum High-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level and Lifestyle Habits among Japanese Junior High School Students

Lifestyle Habits among Japanese Junior High School Students Minoru HONGO ,Hiroya HIDAKA ,Shigeko SAKAGUCHI ,Keisuke NAKANISHI Fumiko TERASAWA ,Motoki IC H IK A W A ,Naoko HIROTA ,Goro TSURUTA Naoki TANAKA ,Atsushi IZA W A ,Yoshikazu YAZAKI ,Uichi IK E D A ,Kenichi KOIKE on behalf of the Investigators of the Study Project on Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome among Children,Adolescents,and Young Adults in Shinshu 1) Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shinshu University School of Health Sciences 2) Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shinshu University School of Health Sciences 3) Department of Nursing, Shinshu University School of Health Sciences 4) Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Health Sciences 5) Faculty of Human Health Science, Matsumoto University 6) Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine 7) Department of Gastroenterology, Shinshu University School of Medicine 8) Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shinshu University School of Medicine 9) Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Saku General Hospital Aim:We examined the relationship between serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)level and lifestyle habits among Japanese junior high school students. Methods:Between April 2006 and March 2009,we conducted a cross-sectional study of 1064 Japanese junior high school students(570 boys and 494 girls,aged 12.1 to 15.0 years)who had annual school health examinations in Nagano Prefecture.They were divided into 4 groups according to HDL-C quartiles. Results:There was a significant increase in the ratio of waist circumference to body height,percentage of being overweight,triglyceride,non-HDL-C,the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to HDL-C,and uric acid in the lowest quartile of HDL-C compared with the highest quartile in both genders.Fasting plasma glucose was also significantly increased in the lowest quartile compared with the highest quartile in boys.With regard to lifestyle habits,the ratios of the students who were often commuting to and from school by car,did not like exercise,did not do sports outside of school,and watched television during meals were significantly higher in the lowest quartile of HDL-C compared with the highest quartile in both genders. Conclusions:Serum HDL-C level was associated with reduced daily physical activity among junior high school students.This study may provide insights into the role of HDL-C in the school screening system for the development of more effective educational programs on the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases in the Japanese population of school children.Shinshu Med J 61: 205―215, 2013 (Received for publication January 8,2013;accepted in revised form April 11,2013)