High blood pressure may begin in childhood, finds study

The results revealed that in men, both childhood BMI and pubertal BMI change independently contributed to increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in middle age. For each one unit increase in childhood BMI, there was a 1.30 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and a 0.75 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. In women, only pubertal BMI change was significantly associated with increased blood pressure in midlife, with a 0.96 mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure and a 0.77 mmHg increase in diastolic blood pressure. Childhood BMI did not show a significant association with blood pressure in midlife for women.

“Although the differences in blood pressure are not very large, if blood pressure is slightly elevated over many years, it can damage blood vessels and lead to cardiovascular and kidney disease. Our findings indicate that high blood pressure may originate in early life. Excessive fat mass induces chronic low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the lining of the blood vessels] already in childhood. Higher amounts of visceral abdominal fat increase the risk of developing hypertension in adults. And we have previously shown that a large pubertal BMI change in men is associated with visceral obesity [fat around the internal organs] at a young adult age. So enlarged visceral fat mass might, in individuals with a high BMI increase during puberty, be a possible mechanism contributing to higher blood pressure.” explained co-author Dr Jenny Kindblom from Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Sweden.

Reference: Study suggests high blood pressure could begin in childhood; EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF OBESITY; MEETING: European Congress on Obesity (ECO2024)