Association of Parental E ducation and Illness with Obesity and Blood Pressure in 13-16 Year Old Girls

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and obesity and its associations with parental (or grandparental) history of illness and parental education. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 299 girls aged 13-16 years from Mumbai city, India. Anthropometry (weight, height, waist (WC) and hip circumference, mid-upper arm circumference) and blood pressure (BP) was measured. History of chronic illness in parents and grandparents was recorded. Parental education was also recorded. The mean WC of the girls was 68±10 cm. WC was between 85 th and 95 th percentile in 14 (4.7%) girls and more than 95 th percentile in 22 (7.4%) girls. The mean systolic BP of the girls was 110±11 mmHg and mean diastolic BP was 69±8 mmHg. Twelve (4%) girls had systolic BP and 48 (16.1%) girls had diastolic BP between 90th and 95th percentile whereas 38 (12.7%) girls had systolic BP and 23 girls (7.7%) had diastolic BP more than 95th percentile. There was a significant association between systolic BP and obesity (X2 = 5.79, df = 2) and diabetes (X2 =9.76, df=2) in grandmother (p<0.05). There was also a significant association of diastolic BP with prevalence of cardio-vascular disease in both parents (X2 = 11.26, df =2) especially with that in mothers (X2 =11.27, df = 2) (p<0.05). Systolic BP showed an association with mother education (X2 = 18.81, df = 8) (p<0.05. Central obesity and hypertension is prevalent in school going girls in Mumbai city and show a significant association with prevalence of diseases in parents and grandparents.

Multigenerational transmission of obesity: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Of the two studies strictly from LMICs, one reported a positive association although the results from the other study were inconclusive. 24,33 The only single study from the Africa region reported a positive and significant association 33 ; and 78% of studies from the American region reported positive associations between GP-GC overweight/obesity. In comparison, 67% of studies from the European region reported a positive association.…”

“…Table 1 provides the main characteristics and findings of the studies included in this study. 2,3,5,6,[22][23][24][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49]…”

“…32,37,38,43 Except for four studies that reported poorly, almost all studies described measures for avoiding systematic differences in missing data or lost participants. 24,33,34,43 For outcome assessment, two studies did not provide a clear description of the relevant outcome measures. 23,45 On data analysis, three studies provided an inadequate description of their use of appropriate statistical methods, 6,44,46 whereas nine did not adjust for relevant confounding variables affecting the association between GP and GC overweight/ obesity status.…”

“…23,45 On data analysis, three studies provided an inadequate description of their use of appropriate statistical methods, 6,44,46 whereas nine did not adjust for relevant confounding variables affecting the association between GP and GC overweight/ obesity status. 5,24,[33][34][35][36][44][45][46] between GP-GC overweight/obesity, out of which 11 studies reported statistically significant evidence on multigeneration transmission of overweight/obesity.…”

“…While some studies have reported a multigenerational transmission of obesity from GPs to grandchildren, 6,22 others reported no association. 23,24 This inconsistent evidence warrants a systematic analysis of the existing literature to provide the best evidence on the multigenerational transmission of obesity.…”