Relations between obesity and hypertension: preliminary data from a cross-sectional study in primary schoolchildren: the children study.
OBJECTIVE
To record the prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension in primary schoolchildren living in one of the poorest regions in Europe and furthermore to identify certain behavioural, lifestyle and physiological parameters associated with body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Nineteen primary schools within the county of Ioannina, Greece.


METHODS
Demographic, dietary and physical activity data as well as anthropometrical, BP and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements were obtained from a representative sample of 312 school children (153 boys and 159 girls) attending 5th grade. Inclusion of subjects in the study was voluntary. One-way analysis of variance and multiple linear regression analysis were mainly applied for the evaluation of the tested hypotheses.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 29.4 and 11.8% for boys and 39.0 and 7.5% for girls. The prevalence of systolic and diastolic hypertension was 28.1 and 7.8% for boys and 26.4 and 17.0% for girls. Furthermore, BMI and BP (systolic and diastolic) were positively related to frequency of fast food meals (rho: + 0.28, P = 0.033, rho: + 1.09, P = 0.03 and rho: +0.86, P = 0.014, respectively) but negatively to leisure time physical activity (rho: -5.55, P = 0.005, rho: -3.32 x 10(-2), P < 0.001 and rho: -2.08 x 10(-2), P < 0.001, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The current study revealed an increased prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension among schoolchildren in Ioannina, indicating the need for early preventive measures in one of the less privileged regions of Europe.
Angelopoulos
P D
PD
Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Milionis
H J
HJ
Moschonis
G
G
Manios
Y
Y
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence