From: "Paul Ernsberger, Ph.D." <pre@po.cwru.edu>
>PREVALENCE OF OBESITY WITH INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE IN ELEMENTARY
>SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
>
>South Med J 1997 Aug;90(8):806-813
>
>
>The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of obesity in
>school-aged children in Jefferson County, Alabama; to learn when school-aged
>children become obese; to determine the susceptible groups; and to study the
>association between obesity and blood pressure.
>
>During the school year, 5,953 children, ranging in age from 5 years to 11
>years, were screened for weight, height, and blood pressure, using
>standardized techniques. We found that obesity, defined as > or = 120% of
>ideal body weight for height,
Here is the first problem. There is no definition of "ideal" body weight
for adults, let alone for children. There are recommended ranges for body
mass index for adults, and for children one uses a percentile cut off based
on population "norms".
> is prevalent in 5-year-old to 11-year-old children.
>
>The prevalence of obesity in girls at age 5 was 23% in blacks and 10% in
>whites, rising to 47% in blacks and 27% in whites by age 11. In boys, the
>prevalence of obesity at age 5 was 13% in blacks and 6% in whites, rising to
>29% in blacks and 22% in whites by age 11. The prevalence of obesity is
>significantly greater in black than in white children and is also
>significantly greater in girls than boys.
>
>The systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly higher in
>obese than in non-obese children.
This has been shown by countless studies. What is never emphasized is that
hypertension (systolic > 140 or diastolic > 90) is very rare. Blood
pressure increases during maturation. Obese children mature faster, as
shown by any number of measures including early puberty. Obese children
reach an adult level of blood pressure (120/80) earlier than thin children.
This does NOT mean that these children should be put on antihypertensive
medication.
>We conclude that the significant prevalence of childhood obesity and an associated >complication, increased blood pressure, emerge in school-aged children. Thus, we >recommend investigations of prevention and intervention programs to be used in the
>school setting.
>
>------------------------------
Restoring physical education classes, which have been cut everywhere in the
U.S. to reduce expenses, would go a long way in this direction.
Paul Ernsberger, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Pharmacology and
Neuroscience
Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, 10900 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH
44106-4982
Email: pre@po.cwru.edu FAX: (216) 368-4752
Visit the Imidazoline Receptor Web page at
http://www/mmcc.monash.edu.au/phimr/ireceptor