Relationship between Blood Pressure and Body Mass Index of Children Aged 6 to 10 years

Dr Lalima Soni, Dr Anand Sude, Dr Megha Sharma

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization (WHO) has described obesity as one of today’s most neglected public health problems. Keeping in mind the lack of concrete data regarding relationship between obesity and hypertension in school going children following study was done. METHOD: Cross sectional study conducted in DY Patil School of Medical Science and Research, Navi Mumbai. Sample size being 600 children between 6 to 10 years. Exclusion criteria being children having history of chronic illness, any cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrinal or any disability. Anthropometric measures done according to standardized procedures. RESULT: Out of 600 children, 341 (56.8 %) were males and 259 (43.2 %) were females. Prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension in obese children was 10 % and 21.4 % as compared to 2.1 % and 6 % amongst lean children (p<0.01) CONCLUSION: Relationship between obesity and hypertension in school going children established.

Keywords: Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, BMI, Children