Introduction:

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of death in Colombia and in the world, and healthy lifestyles are protective factors against this. The effect of healthy lifestyles on HDL cholesterol has not been studied in Medellin.

Objective:

To establish the relationship between HDL cholesterol levels and physical activity and diet in the population aged 18 to 65 in Medellín.

Methods:

A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was carried out by applying the World Health Organisation STEPS method on a data base gathered in Medellin in the year 2011 onindividuals between 18 and 65 years. The evaluation of the relationship between HDL colesterol and healthy lifestyles was made using logistic regression.

Results:

The data were analysed from 1,300 adults, with a mean age of 40.6 ± 13.5 years, and with an HDL measurement. Half of them (50%) had an HDL cholesterol below 36.7 mg/dL (RI 31.2-43.5). Protective factors against a low HDL were a high (OR 0.168; 95% CI; 0.064-0.442) and medium socio-economic level (OR 0.154; 95% CI; 0.084-0.282), as well as the carrying out intense physical activity in their free time (OR 0.600; 95% CI; 0.383-0.939).

Conclusion:

Low HDL levels are highly prevalent in the adult population of Medellin, and require governmental and public health policies that promote health lifestyles in order to modify them.

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