Effect of changes in body mass index and waist-to-height ratio on blood pressure in 11- to 13-year-old children: a prospective population study. (17th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gong, Qing-Hai; Li, Si-Xuan; Qian, Li-Jia; Wang, Si-Jia; Zhang, Yan; Zou, Zu-Quan
• Is Part Of: Annals of human biology. Volume 49:Number 7/8(2022)
• Page Start: 280
• Page End: 290
• Publication Date: 2022-11-17
• Subjects: Children -- overweight -- abdominal obesity -- blood pressure; Human biology -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1080/03014460.2022.2148739
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4460

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Existing evidence about associations between change in body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) change and high blood pressure are relatively limited. Aims: We aimed to investigate the associations of general overweight (based on BMI) and abdominal obesity (based on WHtR) change with high blood pressure in Chinese children. Subjects and methods: A school-based cohort study in Ningbo region (China) was conducted among children with baseline evaluations in October 2016 with follow-up two years later. A total of 1432 children aged 11–13 years participated in this study. Results: Our results showed that a change from normal BMI or WHtR to overweight or abdominal obesity in children was associated with high blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.62; p <0.05 or AOR, 2.79; p <0.05, respectively). In addition, an increased risk of high blood pressure was observed in children who maintained overweight or abdominal obesity (AOR, 1.67; p <0.05 or AOR, 1.69; p <0.05, respectively), but not in children who experienced remission to non-excess weight. Interestingly, children who increased BMI or WHtR had greater impact on SBP than on DBP. Conclusion: The 2-year longitudinal study indicated that general overweight or abdominal obesity can predict the risk factor of high blood pressure in children. However, children who remitted to non-excess weight did not exhibit an increased risk of high blood pressure.