Background and Objectives: Hypertension (HT) is a leading risk factor for blood vessel diseases worldwide and its prevalence is increasing among adolescents. Lifestyle changes cause increased obesity, thereby increasing the risk of developing HT. In this study, the prevalence of HT and associated risk factors were assessed in adolescents in Gujarat, India.
Methodology: Each of the urban and rural cohorts included 400 subjects, aged 14-18 years, with similar gender distributions. Physiological parameters, including body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure, were recorded, and a questionnaire was used to evaluate medical history and lifestyle patterns with an emphasis on food habits. The association between the recorded parameters and obesity and HT was evaluated.
Results: The prevalence of HT was higher in the urban cohort than in the rural cohort (20% vs. 17%), and a weak association with a family history of HT was observed in both cohorts. Obesity and high-fat diet had a moderate to relatively strong association with HT in both cohorts. More than 35% of the participants who regularly consumed junk food were hypertensive.
Conclusion: The changing lifestyle with less physical activity and increased consumption of high-fat and high-sugar diets may have been responsible for the increasing obesity among adolescents, thereby increasing the prevalence of HT. A systematic approach to the recognition, monitoring, prevention, and treatment of obesity is crucial for addressing this global health issue.
D.Hasnani: None. S.Jha: None. B.D.Saboo: None. S.Hasnani: None. S.Jamalpure: None. V.Chavda: None.
