A study of adolescent obesity and hypertension in urban school in Mumbai

Abstract

Background: Obesity and high blood pressure is increasingly prevalent, not only in adults but also in children. Initially thought to be disease of high income countries (HIC), this disease is now increasing across low middle income countries (LMIC). This study aims to estimate the prevalence of obesity and hypertension among urban school children in Mumbai.Methods: Guidelines of Indian Academy of Pediatrics were used to calculate BMI Z Score and identify the overweight and obese adolescents. Children from the age group of 9 to 15 years were selected from schools in Mumbai. Standard guidelines of blood pressure measurement using Sex height specific blood pressure percentile charts were used. Normotensive, pre-hypertensive and hypertensive adolescents were recognized. Associations among both groups were checked using chi-square test of significance and gender wise differences were studied.Results: Among 1486 adolescents studied prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be 20.18% and 16.01% respectively. While the prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension was found to be 7.5% and 5.4% respectively. Gender wise significant difference was found; boys had blood pressure slightly higher than that of girls.Conclusions: Study documents scenario of increasing obesity and hypertension among urban school children of India. Strong association exists between both obese/ overweight and hypertensive disorder.