Trends in Levels of Cholesterol in Japanese Children from 1993 through 2001

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular risk factors in children raise the possibility of cardiovascular disease later in life. We attempted to determine the current trends in cardiovascular risk factors among Japanese children. METHODS: We examined fifth-graders at all the elementary schools in Iwata city in Japan every year from 1993 through 2001. We examined 4,673 boys and 4,484 girls, aged 10-11 years. Height, body weight, body mass index, and serum total cholesterol concentrations were measured. Regression analysis was used to evaluate the trends. The independent variable was the calendar year of the examination. The dependent variables were the anthropometric values and the serum total cholesterol concentration in each individual. The relationships between the year and the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and the prevalence of obesity were also examined. RESULTS: Both the heights of the girls and the body weights of the both sexes were positively associated with the year. The body mass index in both girls and boys also showed positive relationships with the calendar year. In addition, there was an increase in the prevalence of obesity. Concerning the levels of cholesterol, positive regression coefficients were shown between the total cholesterol concentration and the year in both sexes. Furthermore, there was an increase in prevalence of hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that during the past decade among Japanese children involved in the study, both the body mass index and the serum total cholesterol concentrations increased.