However, it undergoes important changes during puberty. On the other hand, the physical composition of the body in prepubertal boys and girls is generally similar. Additional anthropometric measurements, such as skinfold thickness (SFT), waist circumference (WC), and waist circumference-height ratio (WHtR), have also been proposed to be important predictors of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk, ,. Height has already been accepted as part of the definition of normative blood pressure values, along with age and gender.īody mass index (BMI) is an essential anthropometric parameter used to predict body fat mass and show the possible risks for chronic diseases, including high blood pressure. For decades, the standard assessments for children’s growth have been based mainly on height and weight. However, in many cases, it remains difficult to predict which children are at risk for HT and to decide which anthropometric evaluations are appropriate at different stages of growth in childhood and adolescence. Screening programs to detect EBP or HT in children and adolescents represent a useful strategy on which to base targeted interventions. ĭue to the obesity epidemic, there is a growing need for preventive measures in children who are at increased risk of developing HT during childhood or later in life. In Turkey, the Ministry of Health’s 2014 nutrition and health status report noted a gradual increase in overweight and obesity among children and adolescents and stated that the prevalence of HT is expected to rise accordingly. There are limited and local data on the prevalence of HT in children and adolescents in Turkey. Although a global meta-analysis including 55 studies with a total population of over 120,000 children and adolescents aged 10–19 years showed no increase in the prevalence of HT up to 2013, studies evaluating the same data calculated HT rates of up to 26.8% in adolescents living in European countries. Studies have shown the average systemic blood pressure in children to have risen over recent years, and this increase is more pronounced in obese children. Elevated blood pressure (EBP) has also been shown to be associated with target organ damage. Since its consequences are largely permanent but also preventable, early detection and prompt treatment of HT in children and adolescents play a key role in reducing associated risks and long-term effects,. HT is a chronic condition associated with short- and long-term organ damage.
Children with obesity are at an increased risk of developing concomitant diseases such as hypertension (HT), dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver, decreased renal function, and early atherosclerosis than healthy children of the same age group, ,,. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that by 2022, a greater number of children and adolescents will be affected by obesity than by underweight. The influence changes with gender during adolescence.Ĭhildren and adolescents with obesity increased 10-fold between 19. Not only age-related BMI z scores but also a number of other anthropometric measurements, such as WC, SFT, MUAC, WHtR, and AHtR, could have an influence on high blood pressure. In boys and girls with obesity, there was a positive association between obesity and blood pressures. MUAC, WHtR, and AHtR measurements also have strong correlation with HT in boys but only WHtR has a poor relation in girls. WC measurements above the 85th percentile were strongly correlated with HT conditions, and this relationship was stronger in boys than in girls (3.3 vs. Biceps, triceps, and suprailiac SFT have an impact on HT in girls but only suprailiac SFT in boys. The frequency of both elevated blood pressure and HT was 30.2%. The association of different anthropometric measurements with blood pressure was evaluated. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of participants were measured. In this cross-sectional study, 544 participants aged between 12 and 13 years were included. The aim of our study is to determine the utility of different anthropometric measurements (body mass index, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, arm circumference-height ratio, and waist circumference-height ratio ) as markers of hypertension (HT) risk in adolescents. Obesity and obesity-related diseases are one of the common health problems worldwide and have also been proposed to be important predictors of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.