CHRONIC DISEASE RISK-FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN - KNOW YOUR BODY STUDY

Chronic disease risk factors were measured in a sample of school children (ages 10-15 yr) living in the New York City metropolitan area. This was the first phase of a longitudinal school-based primary disease prevention program, designed to reduce specific disease risk factors by means of a multidimensional, behaviorally-oriented health education intervention, primarily focused on anti-smoking and weight/cholesterol control. Thirsty-six per cent of the children screened had one or more risk factors for tobacco-related cancers, emphysema, and coronary heart disease, by criteria developed from adult epidemiological studies. The risk factors studied included cigarette smoking, blood pressure, obesity, total cholesterol and exercise tolerance. © 1979.