Correlation between Blood Pressure, Body Mass Index, Life Style and Dietary Habits in Children and Adolescents Aged 6 to 18 Years in Tabriz, Iran

The prevalence of childhood high blood pressure is rising fast. The possibility of high blood pressure augments with increasing body mass index (BMI), inappropriate dietary intake and lifestyle problems. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between blood pressure, body mass index, life style and dietary habits in children and adolescents aged 6 - 18 years in Tabriz, Iran.

The present study was a cross-sectional study. Using data of the Sib software (the software used in the health transformation system) were collected. This data includes anthropometric information, some demographic factors, dietary intake and lifestyle of 425 children and adolescents with overweight and obesity. The data were analyzed by STATA software (MP 4.2 potable 2017).

The association between systolic blood pressure and dairy products (P = 0.02), watching TV / PC (P = 0.041), BMI quarter (P <0.001), BMI (P <0.001),and age (P <0.001) as well as the  association between diastolic blood pressure with BMI quarter (P <0.001), BMI (P <0.001) and age (P <0.001) was statistically significant and the other variables did not show a meaningful statistical relationship.

Age, BMI, less dairy consumption, and watching TV/PC has a relationship with high blood pressure. Therefore, nutritionists and health workers should consider the above considerations when making recommendations in children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.