title: Development of hypertension in overweight adolescents: a review.
abstract: The upward trend in adolescent hypertension is widely attributed to the adolescent obesity epidemic. Secular trends in adolescent prehypertension and hypertension have risen in congruence with increasing trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. The correlation between body mass index and blood pressure in adolescence is moderate to strong in most studies and strongest in those classified as overweight or obese. The mechanisms relating to the development of hypertension in overweight adolescents are unclear; however, a number of nonmodifiable and modifiable factors have been implicated. Importantly, certain clinical and biochemical markers in overweight adolescents are indicative of high risk for hypertension, including family history of hypertension and hyperinsulinemia. These characteristics may prove useful in stratifying overweight adolescents as high or low risk of comorbid hypertension. The treatment of overweight and obesity related hypertension in this population focuses on two key modalities: lifestyle change and pharmacotherapy. These approaches focus almost exclusively on weight reduction; however, a number of emerging strategies target hypertension more specifically. Among adolescents with overt hypertension there are also several factors that indicate higher risk of concurrent subclinical disease, persistent adult hypertension, and adult cardiovascular disease. This group may benefit substantially from more aggressive pharmacological treatments. Limitations in the literature relate to the paucity of studies reporting specific effects for the adolescent age group of overweight and obese individuals. Nonetheless, intervention for adiposity-related hypertension in adolescence may partially mitigate some of the cardiovascular risk in adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia ; Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Costan G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Magnussen
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sabin
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital and University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia ; Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland ; Division of Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juonala
keywords: blood pressure; childhood; obesity; prevention; risk factors