OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between fat intake and serum cholesterol. METHODS: A survey was conducted in a probabilistic sample of students from public schools in Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Anthropometric data were collected on 610 youngsters, 573 of them had blood drown, and 539 answered a simplified questionnaire on fat intake. Multivariate linear regression included as confounders: parents' cholesterolemia, adolescent age and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The prevalence of high concentrations (> 170 mg/dL) of serum cholesterol was 31.2%. Both sexes presented high frequencies (45% approximately) of inadequate intake of fatty foods. Prevalence of overweight was 15.7%, without significant statistical difference between sexes (p= 0.83). Total fat intake as measured by the questionnaire and each one of the nine high fat items was not associated with youngsters' cholesterol. Among girls BMI and parents' hypercholesterolemia were associated with cholesterol levels, but for boys only age showed statistically significant association. Lack of association between fat intake and cholesterol levels was observed. CONCLUSION: The combined higher prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, overweight and intake of high fat foods suggest that only public health action may curb these epidemics. This may indicate that overall energy intake should be the target of the actions.
Hypercholesterolemia; Student; Adolescent; Food consumption; Survey
