Secular Trends in the Prevalence of Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Among Teenage School Children in Urban South India

The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk is high among South Asians which manifests itself at an early age. Studies have reported that unhealthy food choices, inadequate physical activity and lack of awareness on healthy lifestyle practices pose a huge threat to the increasing prevalence of metabolic abnormalities even at adolescence. In an earlier study conducted in 2006, reported that 68% of the children during their early adolescence had one or more of the cardiometabolic abnormalities such as obesity, central adiposity, increased blood pressure and presence of dysglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. The risk escalated with increasing weight. Therefore, it is imperative to sensitize the children on improving their lifestyle by conducting screening tests and health education programmes in schools by involving teachers. The Investigator have also shown in a study that teachers can be instrumental in imparting knowledge on the prevention of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes by promoting healthy behavioral changes. The proposed study will focus on a) changes in the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors over a 10 year period b) health education programme to school children c) recommendations to school teachers (tool-kit) to inculcate improved lifestyle practices to their students.

This programme will be conducted after obtaining prior permission from the Directorate of School Education, Government of Tamil Nadu and school authorities. This study will be conducted in 22 schools in Chennai involving 2815 students of age group 12 to 18 years. Initially the study and its procedure will be explained to the principal and the teachers of the school. Request the school authority to fix a date for each standard/grade to explain about the informed consent / assent form and the study process to the students. The students will be asked to give the informed consent/assent form to their parents and asked to get their signature in the specified place. Instruction will be given to the students that their parents can call the Investigator if they have any doubts in the informed consent/assent form. After giving ample time for the informed consent process the students will be asked to give the informed consent when the research team goes to the school. The informed consent should be countersigned by the teachers to confirm the authenticity of the parent's signature. The research team gets the signature from the student in the assent form. A date is finalized with the school authority for the screening. The students are advised to come in fasting for the test. On the day of screening the student will be given a screening number. Necessary details such as personal and family information, anthropometry (height, weight, waist circumference, body fat) and blood pressure will be measured. Medical history, diet, physical activity, and sleep habits and questionnaire on awareness on diabetes will be recorded. Laboratory investigations such as fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin and lipid profile (Total Cholesterol, Triglyceride, Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)) will be measured. After the assessment, the students will be given refreshments and a few minutes of rest. The samples will be sent to the central laboratory for analyses. The reports will be distributed to the students within a week's time. Parents will be personally contacted by the research team if there is any concern in the lab report which requires medical attention.