Prevalence of Obesity and Hypertension and Their Association among Adolescent Girls Aged 14–16 years in an Urban Setting Private School: A Cross-sectional Study
Thilip Kumar Gnanadurai, Macha Manasa Tejaswini, Sachin Rambhau Gurnule, Balasankula Sri Vyshnavi, Domala PrasadAbstract
Aims:
This study investigates the prevalence of obesity and hypertension (HTN) among urban adolescent girls (14–16 years) and explores the association between anthropometric measures and blood pressure (BP).
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 257 girls from seven private schools in Karimnagar, Telangana, using a two-stage convenience–purposive sampling strategy. Anthropometric parameters, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist–hip ratio, and waist–height ratio (WHtR), were recorded following standardized protocols. BP was measured using an automated sphygmomanometer and classified according to Indian Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Statistical analyses employed Chi-square tests, analysis of variance, and logistic regression using SPSS version 25.0.
Results:
Among the participants, 16.3% were overweight, 5.4% obese, and 14.3% underweight, while 63.8% fell within the normal weight category. HTN prevalence was 19.5%, with an additional 8.2% showing elevated BP. Overweight and obesity were more frequent among the 15–16 years of age group compared with 14–15 years (26.1% vs. 19.5%). Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was significantly associated with both systolic and diastolic HTN, while WHtR was significantly associated with systolic HTN (
Conclusion:
This study demonstrates a significant burden of overweight/obesity (21.7%) and HTN (19.1%) among urban private school girls aged 14–16 years in India. BMI was significantly associated with both systolic and diastolic HTN, while WHtR was associated with systolic HTN. These findings highlight an association between healthy weight status in adolescence and cardiovascular risk factors. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between obesity and HTN.