Cardiovascular and behavioral factors associated with overweight in young adults in schools

Introduction: Excessive weight is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and it is frequently present among the causes of death. Its prevalence has increased worldwide, raising the need to investigate behaviors and factors associated with excessive weight at early ages so as to create subsidies for prevention and health education actions. To analyze excessive weight and its association with cardiovascular and behavioral factors in young adults in schools. Methods: Analytical, quantitative study with 1073 young adults from 52 schools. The data were collected through a previously constructed instrument, and then tabulated and analyzed through hierarchical logistic regression with the aid of a statistical software. A p < 0.20 was adopted for inclusion in the initial regression model, and a p <0.05 for permanence in the model. Results: The frequency of cases of excessive weight in young adults in the schools was high, affecting more than a third of them (35.4%). In the final logistic regression model, the factors associated with overweight were: excessive weight in adolescence, blood pressure, and exposure to alcohol. Conclusions: Clinical and behavioral factors are associated with excessive weight, causing harm to the cardiovascular health of young adults in schools.