RELATIONSHIP OF NECK CIRCUMFERENCE WITH HYPERTENSION AND OBESITY AMONG EARLY ADOLESCENT, SCHOOL GOING CHILDREN (10 - 15 YEARS)

Abstract

The prevalence of child obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide. These conditions pose a major public health problem because they are associated with various chronic disease. Obesity having several risk factors for later cardiovascular and metabolic problems. Chronic and insidious nature of these disorders close monitoring in childhood is required to prevent long-term effects. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between the risk of HTN and high NC alone and also in the combinations with other anthropometric indices among the adolescents. This community based cross sectional study was carried out during November 2019 to January, 2020 among the adolescents aged 10-15 years living in Midnapore, a district town of eastern India and its adjacent areas. This study indicated that 6.53% of the adolescents were suffering from hypertension and the prevalence of obesity as determined by BAZ>1SD were 7.42% while 20.18% of the participants were suffering from central obesity as diagnosed by high WC. High NC was observed among 8.31% participants. The present study clearly indicated that high NC is the most important predictor of hypertension among the adolescents.