title: Prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with blood pressure among children and adolescents in Shandong, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and high blood pressure (BP) are public health problems all over the world. Some studies have reported a positive association between them in children and adolescents. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associations with BP among school children and adolescents in Shandong, an important province in eastern China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, we conducted a cross-sectional population-representative survey in Shandong, China. A total of 4 898 children and adolescents aged 6-17 years were randomly selected from 140 counties/districts using a multistage random cluster sampling. Weight, height and BP were measured by a trained physician or pediatrician, and information about age, gender and place of residence was obtained using questionnaires. Obesity and high BP were defined according to age- and gender-specific Chinese reference data for children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 4 898 (100%) children and adolescents provided complete information. The prevalence of overweight, obesity and overweight plus obesity were 10.9%, 8.7% and 19.6%, respectively. Boys were more likely to be overweight or obese than girls (P < 0.05 for overweight; P < 0.001 for obesity). The prevalence of overweight plus obesity was highest among children aged 6-11 years (22.3%). BP and the prevalence of high BP increased with increasing body mass index (BMI). With age and sex adjusted, odds ratios (ORs) for high BP were [OR 2.2;95% CI 1.7-2.8) in overweight and [OR 3.6;95% CI 2.6-4.9] in obese children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The representative survey confirms high prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Shandong. Childhood obesity is a strong risk factor for high BP. Intervention programs should be implemented to combat the growing obesity epidemic.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Xiao-Lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zi-Long
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xiao-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Hui-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Yu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liu-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Non-communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16992 Jingshi Road, Jinan 250014, China. freedom.dj1@163.com.
authors.forename: Ai-Qiang
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors