Research Journal of Medical Sciences
ISSN: Online 1993-6095ISSN: Print 1815-9346
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Abstract
Childhood obesity and hypertension are growing public health concerns worldwide, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among school children aged 10‐16 years in urban schools of Hisar district and to investigate the correlation between these two conditions. A school‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from September 2019 to June 2021 in the Hisar district, Haryana. A sample size of 1500 children was calculated based on prevalence rates from previous studies, with a 95% confidence level and 2% precision. Four schools were randomly selected and all eligible children were enrolled. Data collection involved measuring height, weight and blood pressure and categorizing children using IAP 2015 BMI charts and American Heart Association guidelines for blood pressure. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v23.0 and jamovi v2.0, with significance set at p<0.05.Out of 1500 children, 65% were male and 35% female, with a median age of 14‐16 years (78%). The median height, weight, BMI, SBP and DBP were 162 cm, 55 kg, 19.9 kg/m², 121 mmHg and 81 mmHg, respectively. The prevalence of obesity and overweight was 5% and 8%, respectively, with higher occurrence in the 10‐12 years age group (20% obesity). Hypertension prevalence was 5.26%, significantly higher in the 14‐16 years age group (59%). A significant association was found between hypertension and obesity (p<0.001), with 70% of hypertensive children also being obese. This study reveals a significant burden of both hypertension and obesity among school children in Hisar, with a strong correlation between the two conditions. Preventive measures and early detection are crucial to mitigate the risk of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. The study underscores the importance of addressing demographic and lifestyle factors in public health interventions.
How to cite this article:
Pooja Dahiya, Pooja and Shweta . Prevalence of Hypertension and Obesity in School Children 10‐16 Years of Age in Urban School of Hisar District and Correlation of Hypertension with Obesity.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.156.159
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1815-9346/10.36478/makrjms.2024.10.156.159