Influence of obesity on blood pressure and arterial stiffness in the early teens

Abstract

Problem: We studied the influence of adiposis on the progression of blood pressure and arteriosclerosis in the early teens.

Methods: The subjects of this study were 147 boys and girls (72 boys and 75 girls) in junior high school. Height, weight, percentage body fat, blood pressure, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and exercise time were measured. All subjects were measured at two points--at 5th grade in elementary school (ages between 10 and 11 years) and 2nd grade in junior high school (8th grade, ages between 13 and 14 years). The relationship between the change values of adiposis over 3 years (from 5th grade to 8th grade) and blood pressure/baPWV at the age of 13-14 were analyzed with multiple regression analysis.

Results: For boys, the change values in BMI and percentage body fat were correlated positively with systolic blood pressure. For girls, the change values in BMI and percentage body fat were correlated positively with systolic and diastolic blood pressures and baPWV.

Conclusions: In conclusion, raised blood pressure was already observed in obese early teens as a result of arteriosclerosis progression regardless exercise habit, and it was more apparent in girls.