Association of Parental Education and Illness with Obesity and Blood Pressure in 13-16 Year Old Girls

Mansi Padechia¹, Khorshed Mistry^1* and Neha Sanwalka²

¹Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey College of Home Science (Autonomous), Mumbai, SNDT Women’s University, Juhu Tara Road, Juhu, Mumbai – 400049, India

²NutriCanvas, B101-102 Velentine Apartment B3, Off Film City Road, Gen. A. K. Vaidya Marg, Malad (East), Mumbai 400097, India.

The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of hypertension and obesity and its associations with parental (or grandparental)history of illness and parental education.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 299 girls aged 13-16 years from Mumbai city, India. Anthropometry (weight, height, waist (WC) and hip circumference, mid-upper arm circumference) and blood pressure (BP) was measured. History of chronic illness in parents and grandparents was recorded. Parental education was also recorded.

The mean WC of the girls was 68±10 cm. WC was between 85^th and 95^th percentile in 14 (4.7%) girls and more than 95^th percentile in 22 (7.4%) girls. The mean systolic BP of the girls was 110±11 mmHg and mean diastolic BP was 69±8 mmHg. Twelve (4%) girls had systolic BP and 48 (16.1%) girls had diastolic BP between 90th and 95th percentile whereas 38 (12.7%) girls had systolic BP and 23 girls (7.7%) had diastolic BP more than 95th percentile. There was a significant association between systolic BP and obesity (χ2 = 5.79, df = 2) and diabetes (χ2 =9.76, df=2) in grandmother (p<0.05). There was also a significant association of diastolic BP with prevalence of cardio-vascular disease in both parents (χ2 = 11.26, df =2) especially with that in mothers (χ2 =11.27, df = 2) (p<0.05). Systolic BP showed an association with mother education (χ2 = 18.81, df = 8) (p<0.05

Central obesity and hypertension is prevalent in school going girls in Mumbai city and show a significant association with prevalence of diseases in parents and grandparents.

Blood pressure; Central Obesity; Parental association; Girls; India

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