Low Physical Activity Levels Are Linked to Early Hypertension Risk in College-Going Young Adults

Background: Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity along with body mass are identified as critical determinants of vascular health along with body mass in young adults. However, the relationship between potential physical health and anthropometric variables with high blood Eid pressure remain unexplored in young adults from the United Arab Emirates region. Methodology: We administered a cross-sectional study in young adults assessing their self-reported physical activity levels, anthropometric variables (body mass index and waist circumference) and ambulatory blood pressure. The associations among potential physical health, anthropometric variables and high blood pressure were analysed through logistic regression after necessary transformation. Results: Of 354 participants (176 males, 178 females), we found 17.79% (n = 63) had higher mean arterial pressure. Males (n = 40; 22.73%) had higher risk of hypertension than females (n = 12.92%). Weekly physical activity levels (β = -0.001; p = 0.002), age (β = -0.168; p = 0.005) and gender (β = -0.709; p = 0.028) were found to be more strongly associated with hypertension risk than the body mass index (β = 0.093; p = 0.075), waist circumference (β = 0.013; p = 0.588) and the weekly sitting time (β = 0.000; p = 0.319) of the individuals. Conclusions: Lower physical activity was associated with hypertension risk compared to other modifiable risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index and sedentary time in college-going young adults. Public health measures should continue to emphasise optimisation of weekly physical activity levels to mitigate vascular health risks at educational institution levels.