title: Obesity and hypertension in Australian young people: results from the Australian Health Survey 2011-2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have focused on the prevalence of obesity and hypertension among young people (ages 15-24).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterise the prevalence of obesity and systolic hypertension in young people aged 15-24 years across Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from the 2011-2012 Australian Health Survey, a national cross-sectional population-based survey, we included 2163 young people aged 15-24 years. Risk factors were estimated using multinomial logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of obesity increased from 8% to 15% through the ages of 15-24 among males, but the prevalence of overweight and obesity were both 14% for females across all age groups. Low levels of physical activity were a strong risk factor for obesity for both males (odds ratio (OR) 5.95, 95% confidence intervals (CI)1.83-19.36) and females (OR 3.20 95% CI 0.69-14.87). Low socioeconomic status was associated with obesity among females only (first quintile OR 4.65, 95% CI 1.97-10.99). Although the prevalence of hypertension was low (4% males, 3% females), the prevalence of high normal blood pressure was substantial, especially among males (28% males, 14% females).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight, obesity and high normal blood pressure were highly prevalent among Australian young people. Low levels of physical activity were identified as a risk factor for obesity for both male and females. Programmes targeting physical activity participation may need to be tailored differently for males and females, with a focus on females during early adolescence but early adult life for males.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia.|Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia.|Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.|Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Baur
authors.affiliation: Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Macaskill
authors.affiliation: Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Australia.|Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: hypertension; obesity; young people