title: Obesity and Hypertension among School-going Adolescents in Peru.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adolescent obesity and hypertension are global public health issues. The burden of adolescent obesity and hypertension in Peru is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension and their relationship among school-attending adolescents and to assess the need for health-promoting school programs in the study area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional school-based survey was conducted in a randomly selected sample of 952 secondary school adolescents from 11 schools in Lima or Callao, Peru, in 2014. Weight, height, and blood pressure (BP) were measured and categorized. Obesity was defined as ≥ 95(th) percentile in body mass index (BMI) for age and sex. Hypertension was defined as average systolic blood pressure and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥95(th) percentile in BP for sex, age, and height. Chi-square test and univariate logistic regressions were used at a 5% significance level to determine the relationship between BMI and BP category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of subjects was 14.6 years; 46.4% were boys and 53.6% were girls. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 20.2% and 9.5% overall, 17.4% and 11.1% for boys, and 22.5% and 8.0% for girls, respectively. The prevalence of hypertension was 26.7% overall, 34.8% for boys, and 19.6% for girls. In both sexes, BMI was strongly associated with BP (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of obesity and hypertension observed in the study area is relatively high. Overweight and obesity are strongly associated with BP status among adolescents. Health-promoting school programs may reduce the burdens of obesity and hypertension among school-going adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Department of Health Administration, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Woo
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Institute for Poverty Alleviation and International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Department of Health Administration, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Korea.
authors.forename: Bimala
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Department of Health Administration, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Doris Jackeline Vasquez
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Paja
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Department of Health Administration, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Hwan
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea International Cooperation Agencies, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chung Hyeon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yun Seop
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Korea International Cooperation Agencies, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea; Department of Family Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Adolescent; Hypertension; KOICA; Obesity; Peru; School health