Hypertension in non-obese children and BMI in adulthood: the Bogalusa heart study

This study explored the association between hypertension(HTN) in non-obese children body mass index (BMI) in adulthood.

A retrospective analysis of 1111 participants from the Bogalusa Heart Study was conducted, in which data on hypertension history during childhood in non-obese children, anthropometric and cardiovascular risk factors and other indicators from cross-sectional examinations in adulthood were collected. BMI was used as both a continuous and a categorical variable, and multivariate linear regression modelling and logistic regression modelling were used.

Of the 1111 participants finally enrolled, 40 (3.60%) had HTN during childhood. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, lipid, glucose and insulin levels in childhood, and smoking status, alcohol intake, and disease history as adults, HTN among non-obese children was positively associated with BMI in adulthood (β = 2.64 kg/m², 95% CI: 0.88–4.40, P = 0.0033), and the odds of being overweight or obese was 3.71 times higher in the group with a history of hypertension in childhood than those without a history of HTN(95% CI: 1.11–12.46, P = 0.0337).

Among non-obese children, hypertension is at risk for higher levels of BMI in adulthood. Identifying and controlling blood pressure and childhood may aid in the prevention of adult obesity.