Obesity in Children & Adolescents Quickly Affects Blood Pressure
Children and adolescents who gain too much weight develop unhealthy changes in blood pressure over a relatively short period of time, according to a new study in Pediatrics.
The study, “Change in Weight Status and Development of Hypertension”, examined health records from 101,606 patients between ages 3 to 17 who were part of three major health systems in Colorado, California and Minnesota between 2007 and 2011.
Researchers found a strong association between increasing body mass index and rising blood pressure within the roughly 3-year follow-up period. Compared with those who maintained a healthy weight, children and adolescents who become or stayed obese had more than triple the risk of developing hypertension, for example.
The authors note that nearly one-third of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight or obese, and the negative impact this study shows it can have over a short period of time underscores the need for early and effective weight management strategies.