Relationship Between BMI and Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents in Anhui Province

Objective To identify the relationship between body mass index and blood pressure in children and adolescents, and to provide evidence for the early prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Methods Data were from 2005 National Survey on Chinese Students's Physical Fitness and Health (Anhui Province). Totally 6 600 students aged 7-17 years were classified into three groups: Obesity, overweight and normal, based on WGOC criteria. Z scores of blood pressure and detection rate of high blood pressure were compared in three groups, and detection rate of high blood pressure were compared in three groups, respectively. Correlations between BMI and blood pressure were analyzed. Results Children and adolescents showed the highest Z scores of SBP, DBP and detection rate of high blood pressure in obesity group but lowest in the normal weight group. Overweight and obesity were risk factors for high blood pressure by using logistic regression (OR=2.358, 5.466; 95%CI: 1.191-1.262, 3.648-8.191). Conclusion Overweight and obesity are the risk factors for high blood pressure.