Relation Between Childhood Obesity and Blood Pressure Among School Aged Children

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity has become an important public-health problem and is becoming more associated with cardiovascular risk factors at a young age. Complications of obesity in children include, but are not limited to, elevated blood pressure and hypertension, which if identified early, can decrease the burden of cardiovascular disease later in life.

Objective: To determine the relationship between childhood obesity and blood pressure among school-aged children.

Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at HBS Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, from January 2023 to June 2023. A total of 82 School-aged children were included. Demographic data and anthropometric data, namely weight, length, and BMI (body mass index) were collected. The participants were divided into three groups: normal weight, overweight, and obese, based on the BMI-for-age criterion. Blood pressure was measured according to standard procedures, with the result being the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and the diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Blood pressure was classified as normal, elevated or hypertension based on paediatric criteria. Appropriate statistical tests, correlation analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the relationship between BMI and blood pressure. A p value less than 0.05 was deemed to be statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of participants was 10.46 ± 2.18 years, and 44 (53.7%) were boys. Of the 82 children, 43 (52.4%) had normal weight, 17 (20.7%) were overweight, and 22 (26.8%) were obese. Mean SBP increased significantly from 103.72 ± 8.94 mmHg in normal-weight children to 110.41 ± 9.76 mmHg in overweight children and 120.59 ± 11.18 mmHg in obese children (p < 0.001). Mean DBP also increased from 65.81 ± 6.72 mmHg to 70.76 ± 7.13 mmHg and 75.77 ± 8.42 mmHg, respectively (p < 0.001). Abnormal blood pressure was observed in 11.6% of normal-weight, 41.2% of overweight, and 77.3% of obese children (p < 0.001). BMI was positively correlated with both SBP (r = 0.61, p < 0.001) and DBP (r = 0.49, p < 0.001). Obesity remained independently associated with abnormal blood pressure after adjustment for age and sex (AOR = 5.82, 95% CI: 2.01–16.84; p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Increasing BMI was significantly associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure among school-aged children. Obese children had a markedly greater frequency of elevated blood pressure and hypertension than normal-weight children. Routine assessment of BMI and blood pressure may facilitate early identification of children at increased cardiovascular risk.

Keywords: Childhood obesity; body mass index; blood pressure; hypertension; overweight; school-aged children.