Childhood Obesity Leads to Hypertension

Childhood obesity may lead to hypertension later in life, according to a study published online in Pediatrics. Researchers followed BMI and blood pressure readings for 101,606 participants aged 3 to 17 from various health care providers for about three years. Those who became obese or remained obese were three times more likely to develop hypertension than those who maintained a healthy weight. This study demonstrates the effect of early weight gain on other chronic diseases during a short time period and stressed the importance of preventive strategies.