EC Paediatrics

Background: Childhood obesity and elevated blood pressure (BP) are significant global health issues that contribute to early cardiovascular diseases. In Jordan, there is limited data regarding the prevalence of these conditions among school-aged children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and elevated BP among children aged 7 to 12 years attending private schools in Amman and to explore the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and BP in this population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 249 children (65.86% female), aged 7-12 years, from private schools in Amman. Anthropometric measurements, including height and weight, were recorded to calculate BMI. Participants were classified into BMI categories of normal weight, overweight, obesity, and underweight. BP was measured according to American Heart Association guidelines, categorizing BP into normal, elevated, and stage 1 hypertension. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests for associations between BMI and BP categories, as well as logistic regression models to evaluate BMI as a predictor of elevated BP.

Results: The mean height and weight of the children were 134.42 cm and 33.33 kg, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 16.87%, overweight was 24.9%, and underweight was 2.4%. Additionally, 14.06% of children had elevated BP, with 4.8% diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension. A weak negative correlation was observed between BMI and elevated BP. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant association between BMI categories and BP classifications. Logistic regression indicated that obesity, overweight, and underweight were not significant predictors of elevated BP, regardless of gender.

Conclusion: The study found a notable prevalence of obesity and elevated BP among children in Jordan's private schools. However, the weak association between BMI and elevated BP suggests that other factors, such as diet, physical activity, and genetics, may also play a crucial role. These findings underscore the need for early interventions in schools to address both obesity and hypertension, and further research is necessary to explore additional determinants of elevated BP.

 Keywords: Childhood Obesity; Blood Pressure; BMI; Private Schools; Jordan

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