In a new study published today in JAMA Network Open, Kaiser Permanente researchers analyzed over 800,000 young individuals between the ages of 3 and 17.
The study findings revealed that those in the upper range of average weight had a 26% higher risk of developing hypertension than their counterparts closer to the average weight range.
According to the findings, even a slight increase in weight can have detrimental effects on the health of young people. The findings emphasize the critical need for preventative measures and education on the health risks associated with obesity in children.
Preventing hypertension in young people is of utmost importance, as it has been found that high blood pressure during youth tends to persist into adulthood and is linked with serious cardiac and vascular organ damage. The resulting organ damage can be irreversible, making it all the more imperative to address hypertension early on in order to safeguard the health of our youth.
The study analyzed the electronic health records of 801,019 young members of Kaiser Permanente in Southern California between 2008 and 2015. The research team compared the initial and follow-up body mass index (BMI) of the youths and their blood pressure readings to diagnose hypertension. To better understand the risk of hypertension at a weight that is below what is typically considered overweight, researchers divided average body weight into three categories: low (5th through 39th percentile), medium (40th through 59th percentile), and high (60th through 84th percentile). Unlike adults, BMI levels among children and teenagers need to be relative to the same age and sex group for accurate comparison.
According to the study, young people who were at the higher end of the average weight range were found to have a 26% greater risk of developing hypertension within 5 years compared to those in the medium range. Additionally, the risk of hypertension increased by 4% for every BMI unit gained per year. The research also found that boys were more likely to develop hypertension than girls, and youth on state-subsidized health plans had higher rates of hypertension than those not on such plans.
According to the study’s senior author, Poornima Kunani, MD, who is a pediatrician and researcher at the Kaiser Permanente Manhattan Beach Medical Office, the results of the study highlight the need for medical professionals to rethink how they educate and evaluate health risks associated with weight in growing children.
“Obesity may be the most important risk factor for hypertension during childhood. Parents should talk to their pediatrician to see if your child might be at risk for hypertension and other preventable chronic medical conditions related to obesity. They can help you with strategies for developing habits to keep your child healthy through adulthood.”
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