Impact of lifestyle training on serum lipids of children and adolescents with dyslipidemia: a quasi-experimental study

Background: Dyslipidemia is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. It can cause a rise in the incidence of these diseases in adulthood. Lifestyle modification is a determinant factor for incidence, prognosis and complications of cardiovascular diseases. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of lifestyle modification on serum lipids of children and adolescents with dyslipidemia. Methods: This quasi-experimental study (before and after design) was conducted on all dyslipidemia children and adolescents with dyslipidemia referred to the cardiovascular diseases research center of Birjand University of Medical Sciences (Iran) in 2015. Participants underwent 6 sessions of training, appropriate to their age, including fat definition and healthy lifestyle. Before the study and 6 months after trainings, in the same circumstances, subjects were examined for level of blood lipids and blood pressure. Data were analyzed using paired-samples ttest, Pearson correlation coefficient, and independent-samples t-test. P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: This study was performed on 50 children with dyslipidemia, of whom 52% were female and 48% were male. The mean age of participants was 12.77±1.84 years. The study showed a significant difference between the mean of cholesterol (p<0.001) and LDL (p=0.008) before and after the study. Comparing the changes made in the mean of variables such as FBS, Cholesterol, TG, HDL and LDL as a result of gender-based lifestyle modification, no significant difference between the two sexes was seen (p>0.05). Pearson correlation coefficient showed no significant relationship between the mean of these variables in children as a result of lifestyle modification and their age (p>0.05). Conclusion: Lifestyle modification relying on exercise and physical activity, nutrition and sufficient sleep and rest can be effective as a non-pharmacological supplement in reducing blood lipids and dyslipidemia. Lifestyle modification training is essential for both children and their parents after diagnosis of dyslipidemia as a part of the Therapeutic plan.