Background: Hypertension seen in childhood can progress into adulthood thereby increasing morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Younger the age of onset of hypertension, the greater is the reduction of life expectancy if left untreated. With increase in incidence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension in children; it is important to measure and record blood pressure along with weight and height at least once a year as recommended by National Institute of Health (NIH) task force of USA. Aims and objectives was to determine the prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension and to identify the associated risk factors for them in school going adolescents.Methods: An observational/cross-sectional study conducted among adolescents studying between Std 5th to Std 9th. A total 507 students belonging to the age group of 10-17 years were examined. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI) and Blood pressure was measured by using mercury sphygmomanometer. Gender, age and height were considered for determining hypertension.Results: Amongst the 507 children, prevalence of pre-hypertension was 15.4% and that of hypertension was 10.85%. The study also revealed statistically significant higher prevalence of hypertension in males than in females. Family history of hypertension and dietary habits, obesity were positively correlated with higher prevalence of hypertension. A higher prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension was seen in the present study group compared to the similar studies in the state.Conclusions: The prevalence of pre-hypertension and hypertension among adolescent school children was 15.38% and 10.8% respectively. Possible risk factors for this current trend may be the increasing sedentary life style, faulty eating habits, and increased fat/salt contents of diet. The results suggest the need for more public awareness and prevention programs for childhood obesity and hypertension.
BACKGROUND School age and adolescence represent a dynamic period of physical growth as well as of mental development. Children are particularly vulnerable to nutritional disorders during these periods. Nutritional status of children in these age groups are assessed and monitored commonly by using weight and height for age/gender growth charts. Though BMI (Body Mass Index) is widely used in adult population to define overweight/obesity, it is not used in children routinely to assess nutritional status, especially overnutrition. Aims and Objectives-1. To estimate the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity in school children using Revised Indian Academy of Paediatrics 2015 growth charts. 2. To compare the difference in rate of prevalence of unhealthy nutritional status by using weight for age/gender and BMI for age/gender criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODSA cross-sectional/observational study was conducted in Urban Schools. Student's anthropometric data was recorded from classes II (Age-7 years), V (Age-10 years) and VIII (Age-13 years). A Revised Indian Academy of Paediatrics 2015 growth charts were used to assess the nutritional status. RESULTSOut of 1154 children, 698 (60.4%) were boys and 456 (39.6%) were girls. The prevalence of overweight was 10.83% (10.88% boys and 10.74% girls) and that of obesity was 5.11% (4.30% boys and 6.36% girls). At the same time, 9.73% children were underweight using BMI for age/gender as criteria. Obesity was more in adolescent girls. The proportion of overweight and obesity increased with age in girls. The number of children identified as underweight, overweight/obese was more when BMI for age/gender was used as criteria. CONCLUSIONAmongst the various anthropometric parameters used to assess nutritional status in children and adolescents, BMI for age/gender is a better indicator for early recognition of undernutrition as well as overnutrition during mid-childhood and adolescence period. By monitoring BMI in all children, Healthcare professionals can play a significant role in preventing undernutrition as well as overweight and obesity amongst school children. KEYWORDSChildren, Body Mass Index, Overweight, Obesity, Prevalence. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: BACKGROUNDThe children in developing countries including India presently suffer from the double threat of overnutrition and undernutrition due to a rapid epidemiological, nutritional and demographic transitions. (1.2) Due to targeted interventions to address the problem of undernutrition, the prevalence of undernutrition is on decline, but at the same
Objective: (1) To estimate the prevalence of Overweight, Obesity and Underweight amongst preschool children in urban nursery schools from Pune (2) To compare the two growth references that can be used to assess the BMI status of preschool children and (3) To compare BMI for age / gender with Weight for age / gender to define Overweight and Obesity. Methods: It is an observational study with 334 preschool children of 4 years of age from urban nursery schools of Pune. They were examined during annual health checkup. Anthropometric measurements such as Body weight (Wt.), height (Ht.) were taken and Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated. Child Growth standards released by the World Health Organization and CDC charts were used to define obesity, overweight and underweight. Cutoff values for nutritional status using 'weight for age' as criteria was defined as > 85 th percentile being Overweight, > 97 th percentile being obesity and < 3 th percentile as underweight. Using BMI criteria Overweight was defined as > 85 th percentile, obesity > 95th percentile and underweight as < 5th percentile. Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and underweight was 2.1%, 1.2% and 29.77 % respectively using BMI for age /gender as criteria and WHO growth reference charts. Amongst two growth references used to assess BMI; Underweight was overestimated by CDC growth charts. Conclusion: The Prevalence of overweight and obesity among preschool children of Pune were lower than that of preschool children of developed countries and other parts of India. Under nutrition is still a problem for preschool children. BMI for the age and gender is a better indicator to pick up nutritional status of preschool children than weight for age.
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