A study found that obesity heightens blood pressure more in teen girls than teen boys, putting teen girls at higher risk for heart disease and stroke.
In the study, 1,700 teenagers were monitored for blood pressure, both diastolic and systolic, and body mass index (BMI). People with a BMI of 30 or more are considered obese. Diastolic pressure measures the force on the arteries between heartbeats. Systolic blood pressure measures the amount of force that blood exerts on blood vessel walls when the heart beats, a high value is associated with high risk for heart disease and stroke.
As a result, teen girls were found to have three times the risk for high blood pressure than teen boys. Obese boys were 3.5 times more likely to develop elevated systolic blood pressure than non-obese boys. Obese girls were nine times more likely to develop elevated systolic blood pressure than their non-obese peers.
Childhood obesity is a serious problem in the U.S. Obesity rates have been increasing rapidly over the last two decades. Unfortunately, in the U.S., childhood obesity has almost tripled over the last 25 years.
In comparison with global obesity rates, the U.S. obesity is dramatically higher. According to World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 10% of children globally are considered obese/overweight. Within the U.s., about 17% of American children and teens are obese, and 32% are overweight. Approximately one third of American babies/toddlers aged between 9 months and two years are overweight/obese. This can lead to serious health issues for the U.S. in the coming years.
