Perinatal characteristics
health behaviors
All participating adolescents were asked bringing the so-called “mother–child booklet” with them on the day of examination. Within this official medical document health data about pregnancy, birth and regular pediatric examinations during the first 5 years of life are documented in Austria and Italy. We registered infant data on perinatal characteristics, namely gestational age (GA) and birth weight. To account for gender- and GA-specific differences, birth weight z-scores were calculated for every subject using the Fenton 2013 reference dataset [CV health was assessed by the concept of the seven so called CV health metrics defined by the AHA including three health factors (SBP and DBP, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose) and four health behaviors (non-smoking, BMI, regular physical activity and favorable dietary patterns) [