Surging childhood obesity has driven rates of high blood pressure in kids to almost double since 2000, an analysis suggests.
That’s the “deeply concerning” conclusion of a new study, which found more than one in 20 children under the age of 19 (6.2%) had high blood pressure in 2020.
In 2000 the figure was 3.2%, according to the paper published in the journal Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, now affects 114 million children around the world, the international team of researchers found.
The authors, including academics from the University of Edinburgh and Zhejiang University in China, examined data on 443,000 children from 21 countries.
Obesity was found to be a “substantial driver” of the problem.
They found nearly 19% of children and adolescents with obesity have high blood pressure, compared with 3% among those with a healthy weight
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Childhood obesity ‘is a political problem’
The latest figures for England suggest one in 10 (10.5%) children in the first year of primary school is obese.
By the final year of primary school, 22.2% of children are obese, according to data from the National Child Measurement Programme.
Co-author Dr Peige Song of Zhejiang University attributed higher rates of high blood pressure to “unhealthy diets, decreased physical activity, and the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity”.
She said: “The analysis showed that children and adolescents with obesity are nearly eight times more likely to develop hypertension.
“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.”
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Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, called on the government to act.
He 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.”