Abstract

POLETTI, Oscar H.  and  BARRIOS, Lilian. Obesidad e hipertensión arterial en escolares de la ciudad de Corrientes, Argentina. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2007, vol.105, n.4, pp.293-298. ISSN 0325-0075.

Introduction. Blood hypertension and obesity are strongest predictors for atherosclerosis and morbidity and mortality for cardiovascular disease and stroke in adulthood. Objectives. To detect the prevalence of overweight, obesity and blood hypertension and to examine feeding behaviors and physical activity in school children and adolescents. Population, material and methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out with data obtained in an inquiry about weight, height, blood pressure, feeding behaviors and physical activity, parental obesity antecedents and blood hypertension in students aged 10 to 15 years from Corrientes, Argentina. Body mass index was calculated as weight in kilo grams divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). The reference values for detecting normal or elevated blood pressure were those of the Task Force graph. 2507 students were studied. Results. The 17% had overweight, 4.5% obesity and 13.8% blood hypertension. Body mass index and systolic blood pressure correlation was: R= 0.28; r²= 0.08. Fifty per cent consumed high-fat food, seven or more times weekly. Conclusions. High prevalence of overweight, obesity and blood hypertension, as well excessive consumption of junk food, sugar-based carbonated beverages and sedentary habit was detected in this sample.

Keywords : Obesity; Blood hypertension; Physical activity; Feeding behavior; School children.

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