Physical activity in adults has also been correlated with coronary heart disease. Epidemiological research has demonstrated that increased physical activity is associated with reduced risk of myocardial infarctions. Regular physical exercise has been shown to have beneficial effects on relative weight and obesity and may act indirectly to beneficially affect hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and glucose intolerance and raise HDL cholesterol levels. However, in 1985 when SCAN was initiated, little information was available concerning the development of nutritional status/eating behaviors and routine physical activity patterns in children.