It increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes
More children are now at risk
Rates of high blood pressure in children have almost doubled since the year 2000 amid rising levels of childhood obesity, analysis suggests. More than one in 20 (6.2%) children under the age of 19 were believed to have high blood pressure in 2020, academics said.
This is a rise from 3.2% in 2000, according to a study published in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. This means high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, now affects 114 million children around the world, according to an international team of researchers, including academics from the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University in China.
Researchers examined data on 443,000 children from 21 countries. They found that nearly 19% of children and adolescents with obesity have high blood pressure – compared with 3% among children with a healthy weight.
They said that obesity is a substantial driver of the increase in high blood pressure among children. The latest figures suggest that one in 10 (10.5%) children in the first year of primary school in England is obese. This rises to 22.2% of children in the final year of primary school, Year 6, according to data from the National Child Measurement Programme.
Dr Peige Song, researcher from Zhejiang University, said the rise is “driven largely by lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets, decreased physical activity, and the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity”. She told the PA news agency: “Hypertension in children and adolescents has emerged as a substantial public health concern.”
Dr Song added: “The analysis showed that children and adolescents with obesity are nearly eight times more likely to develop hypertension. Approximately 19% of children with obesity were found to have hypertension, compared to just 2.4% of those within a healthy weight range.
“This is likely due to obesity-associated complications, such as insulin resistance and vascular changes, which disrupt normal blood pressure regulation.”
She told PA: “Parents play a pivotal role in preventing and managing high blood pressure in children. Promoting healthy habits, such as a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains while minimising salt and sugar intake, can substantially reduce the risk of hypertension.
“Encouraging regular physical activity and limiting sedentary behaviours, such as excessive screen time, are equally crucial. For families with a history of hypertension, regular blood pressure monitoring for children is strongly recommended. Early detection of elevated blood pressure, particularly through home monitoring, can help mitigate the risk of long-term complications.”
The researchers also examined where blood pressure is taken – including in a doctor’s office or in other situations, such as using blood pressure cuffs at home. When blood pressure was solely measured in a doctor’s office it appeared cases were lower, but when measurements taken at home or in ambulances were included, the rates rose, researchers found.
“Reliance solely on office blood pressure measurements may result in underdiagnosis or misdiagnosis,” Dr Song added. Commenting on the study, Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, said: “The doubling in childhood high blood pressure rates is deeply concerning.
“Elevated blood pressure in childhood often persists into adulthood, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke later in life. While genetics and kidney disease play a role, the sharp rise in childhood hypertension is most likely driven by the growing prevalence of childhood obesity.
“The good news is that obesity-related high blood pressure can be reversed. We need bold Government action to help prevent obesity in the first place. This includes expanding restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy products and exploring further measures to drive the food industry to make our everyday foods healthier.”
