Anthropometric values and cardiovascular risk factors in the Canary Islands (1997-98).

OBJECTIVE: To know the distribution of certain anthropometric parameters and cardiovascular risk factors: hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking and diabetes mellitus in the population of the Canary Islands. DESIGN: Epidemiological, cross-sectional study, with description of prevalence. SUBJECTS: 1365 individuals from de Canary Islands: 637 males (45.9%) and 738 females (54.1%) aged 18 to 75 years. RESULTS: In the Canary Islands obesity was found in 18.6% of the population, 14.3% males and 22.3% females. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 30.4%, with an average serum cholesterol level of 213.1 mg/dl in males and 218.7 mg/dl in females. 63.1% of the population declared to have a sedentary lifestyle. In the population between 18 and 75 years old, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 30.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The Canary Islands show a high prevalence of obesity compared to other Spanish data and low if we compare it with Latin American countries. The average and prevalent serum cholesterol levels are higher than those described in the rest of Spain and Latin America. The prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle during spare time is similar to the average of our country and lower than the one described in Latin America.