title: Obesity in Kolkata children: Magnitude in relationship to hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data is available from India regarding the distribution and profile of childhood obesity and hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population based cross-sectional study was conducted in the urban schools of Kolkata. Using stratified random sampling method, 979 participants were selected. Body mass index (BMI) status and blood pressure (BP) were estimated using standard protocol and their various correlates regarding sociodemographic characteristics were looked into.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority (38.92%) of the study population were in the preadolescent group followed by adolescent group (33.40%). Male constituted 52.09%, overweight was more prevalent among preadolescent age group (22.57%). Overall 27 cases of prehypertension were found of which 19 (70.37%, n=27) were in the adolescent age group. There was no significant association between ages with increased BMI status. We detected total 15 cases (1.53%) of hypertension in our study population and three-fourths of them were from adolescent age group. However, significant association was seen between high BP with increasing age. Average fast food intakes and screen time was higher in obese as compared to their normal peers. Upper and upper-middle social status contributed to higher number of obese/overweight and hypertensive children and was the significant risk factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Childhood obesity and hypertension were found to be common in the city of Kolkata which suggest the need for greater public awareness programs on these morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Aditya Hospital, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.forename: Ranabir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pal
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kar
authors.forename: Forhad Akhtar
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Zaman
authors.forename: Shrayan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pal