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Updated: Apr 13, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Intensified association between waist circumference and hypertension in abdominally overweight children
Bin Dong1, Zhiqiang Wang1, Yide Yang2
1Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Sciences Center, Beijing, China; Centre for Chronic Disease, School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Abdominal adiposity significantly increases hypertension risk in children. Overweight children showed a 2.39 times higher risk, with waist circumference gains posing a greater threat in this group.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood hypertension is a growing concern, with abdominal adiposity identified as a key risk factor.
- Understanding the relationship between waist circumference (WC) and hypertension is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the association strength between waist circumference (WC) and hypertension in children across different WC levels.
- To quantify the increased risk of hypertension associated with abdominal adiposity in children.
Main Methods:
- A large cohort of 82,413 Chinese children aged 9-17 years was analyzed.
- Abdominal overweight was defined as WC ≥75th percentile; hypertension as ≥95th percentile.
- Logistic regression models calculated odds ratios (OR) for hypertension based on WC z-scores.
Main Results:
- Abdominally overweight children had a significantly higher risk of hypertension (OR: 2.39).
- Each standard deviation increase in WC raised hypertension odds by 42% in normal WC children, and 74% in abdominally overweight children.
- This intensified association was consistent across sexes, areas, and age groups (9-14 years).
Conclusions:
- Abdominally overweight children exhibit a markedly intensified association between waist circumference and hypertension risk.
- Intervention strategies targeting waist circumference reduction are vital for preventing childhood hypertension, especially in at-risk populations.
Background:
Abdominal adiposity is an important risk factor for childhood hypertension. The present study aimed to compare the strength of the association between waist circumference (WC) and hypertension in children with different WC levels.
Methods:
A total of 82,413 Chinese children aged 9-17 years were selected. An abdominally overweight child was defined as a child with WC ≥75th sex- and age-specific percentile. Hypertension was categorised as ≥95th sex-, age- and height-specific percentile. Logistic regression model was applied to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of WC for hypertension after WC was transformed into sex- and age-specific z-score.
Results:
Abdominally overweight children presented a higher risk of hypertension (OR: 2.39; 95% CI: 2.26, 2.54) than children with normal WC. In children with normal WC, one sex- and age-specific standard deviation increase in WC was associated with a 42% increase in odds of hypertension (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.55). That increase was elevated to 74% in abdominally overweight children (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.66, 1.82). A similar pattern was also observed in different sex and area groups, and in children 9-14 years old.
Conclusions:
An intensified association between WC and hypertension was observed in abdominally overweight Chinese children. The gain in WC was associated with greater increase in hypertensive risk in abdominally overweight children than that of children with normal WC. These findings could improve intervention strategies for hypertension risk reduction in children.
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