Obesity and elevated blood pressure among adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Date
2012-08-07
Authors
Oduwole, A.A.
Ladapo, T.A.
Fajolu, I.B.
Ekure, E.N.
Adeniyi, O.F.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC Public Health
Abstract
Background: Childhood obesity and associated hypertension are major public health concerns globally. This study
aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and the associated risk of high blood pressure among Nigerian
adolescents.
Methods: A cross-sectional school-based study of 885 apparently healthy adolescents was performed. Weight,
height and blood pressure (BP) were measured using standard methods. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and
categorized by age, sex and percentile. Obesity and overweight were defined as: ≥ 95th and 85th to < 95th
percentiles, respectively, for age, sex and height. Subjects were sub-categorized into age 10–13 years (A) and
14–17 years (B). The odds ratio for pre-hypertensive and hypertensive range BP by age and BMI were generated.
Significance was set at P < 0.05.
Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.8% and 9.4%, respectively. The prevalence of
hypertensive range systolic BP in obese versus normal BMI females was 16% versus 23% (p=0.00) and 12.1% versus
6.4% (p=0.27) in males. The prevalence of hypertensive range diastolic BP in obese versus normal BMI females was
12% versus 1.4% (p=0.00) and 15.2% versus 3.5% (p=0.01) in males. BMI in group B was significantly associated with
pre-hypertensive and hypertensive range systolic BP in overweight (P = 0.01, P = 0.002) and obese subjects (P = 0.00,
P = 0.00) and with hypertensive range diastolic BP (P = 0.00) only in obese subjects. The only significant association
in group A was between obesity and pre-hypertensive range diastolic BP (P = 0.00).
Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertensive range BP among obese Nigerian adolescents was high. Screening for
childhood obesity and hypertension, and long-term follow-up of obese adolescents into adulthood are
recommended.
Description
Staff publications
Keywords
Adolescents , Blood pressure , Body mass index , Obesity , Overweight , Research Subject Categories::MEDICINE
Citation
Oduwole AA, Ladapo TA, Fajolu IB, Ekure EN, Adeniyi OF. Obesity and elevated blood pressure among adolescents in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health. 2012 Aug 7;12:616.