Context: According to World Health Organization (WHO) report coronary artery disease (CAD) is the largest cause of death, and by 2020, the low- and middle-income countries including India will also have ischemic heart disease as the most frequent cause of death and greatest disease burden. Various behavioral risk factors responsible for CAD include unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, stress. Aim: Estimate the prevalence of various behavioral risk factors for CAD among adolescents, Thrissur district, Kerala. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used and study was conducted in the selected schools of Thrissur district, Kerala. Materials and Methods: Schools were selected using a multistage cluster sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Results & Conclusion: It was found that 79.2% and 42.7 % don’t engage in one hour daily physical activity and exercise during weekdays and weekends resp. Of all 5.1% and 95.9% of children spend more than two hours in front of the screen during weekdays and weekends resp. Out of all 64.5 % and 33.3% don’t consume vegetables and fruits daily resp. The research identifies that 17.8% consume hotel, junk foods regularly at least 2-4 times in a week. 54.2 percent of adolescents were regularly (2-4 times in a week) consuming some fried foods; 7.2% were daily consumers. This study points out a very high prevalence of various behavioral risk factors among adolescents of Kerala. Hence calls for an urgent need for population based strategies implemented at local and national level to prevent escalation of CAD.

Keywords: Coronary Heart Disease; Behavioral Risk Factors; Adolescents.