10 páginas ; Introduction: The assessment of body composition, as well as knowledge of risk factors among young university students is of great interest. Objectives: To evaluate body composition, lipid profile and characterize students' health lifestyles. Materials and methods: University students (n=161) (17-28 years), were tested for body composition by impedance meter, blood samples for total cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (HDL and LDL). Results: 74.6 % had normal weight, 10.5 % were underweight, 14.2 % overweight and 1 % were obese. Blood chemistry: 23% had hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia 13.7 %, 3% low HDL-C and 2.5 % high LDL-C. A 40.63 % of women and 50% of men are smokers, 40% of women and 21.5 % of men consume fruits daily, 17 % of women and 33.33 % of men consume alcohol on a weekly basis. Of the surveyed overweight population, 62.50 % do not engage in physical activity. Conclusions: These findings suggest the importance of strengthening healthy practices in the students population; healthy diet and increased physical activity, are two of the main alternatives for the prevention of chronic non-reportable diseases. ; Objetivo: Evaluar la composición corporal, el perfil lipídico y principales hábitos de vida saludable en la población estudiada. Materiales y métodos: Medición de la composición corporal por medio de impedanciómetro, muestras de sangre para la determinación de colesterol total, triglicéridos y lipoproteínas (HDL y LDL) en 161 jóvenes universitarios (17-28 años). Resultados: 74.6 % normopeso, 10.5 % bajo peso, 14.2 % sobrepeso y 1 % obesidad. Química sanguínea: 23 % presentaba hipercolesterolemia, 13.7 % hipertrigliceridemia, 31% bajo c-HDL y 2.5 % alto c-LDL. Un 40.63 % de las mujeres y 50 % de los hombres son fumadores; 40 % de las mujeres y 21.5 % de los hombres consume frutas diariamente; 17 % de las mujeres y 33.33 % de los hombres consume alcohol de manera semanal. El 62.50 % de la población entrevistada que se encuentra en sobrepeso refirió que no realiza ...