Prevalence of obesity and hypertension in school going children aged 12 to 16 years-A cross sectional study

Abstract

Aim: To study the prevalence of obesity and hypertension in school going children aged 12 to 16 years.

Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 school-going adolescents aged 12–16 years. Participants were enrolled after obtaining informed consent from parents/guardians. Adolescents with genetic syndromes or chronic systemic illnesses were excluded. Demographic details, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist and hip circumference), and blood pressure were recorded using standardized protocols. Body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio, and waist circumference were assessed using Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP)-modified WHO growth charts and age- and sex-specific Indian reference standards. The association between obesity and hypertension was evaluated using appropriate statistical analysis.

Results: Among the 200 adolescents, 104 (52.0%) were males and 96 (48.0%) were females. Most participants were non-vegetarians (88.0%), consumed junk food (90.0%), were non-obese (82.0%), and had normal weight (78.0%). Hypertension was present in 32 (16.0%) participants, while 12 (6.0%) were pre-hypertensive. Hypertension was more common among males, overweight, and obese participants. However, no significant association was observed between hypertension and sex, dietary pattern, socioeconomic status, junk food consumption, or overweight status (p>0.05). Obesity showed a significant association with hypertension (p=0.021), with hypertensive cases being more frequent among obese participants (33.3%) than non-obese participants (4.9%).

Conclusion: These findings highlight the need for early screening, lifestyle modifications, and school-based interventions to prevent obesity and reduce the risk of hypertension and its long-term cardiovascular complications in adolescents.