Influence of Obesity on Blood Pressure in Young Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obesity has emerged as a significant public health issue worldwide, with increasing evidence pointing toward its association with elevated blood pressure and early onset of cardiovascular disease. In India, the prevalence of obesity among the young adult population is rising, necessitating timely research into its impact on hemodynamic parameters. Our study aims to explore the relationship between obesity and blood pressure phenotypes among young individuals aged 18 to 25 years using body mass index (BMI) as a measure of adiposity.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 young males aged between 18 and 25 years in a medical college in India. Participants were divided into three equal groups based on BMI: Group 1 (normal BMI), Group 2 (overweight), and Group 3 (obese), with 50 participants in each group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured. Data analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). ANOVA was used to compare blood pressure phenotypes across groups, and Spearman's correlation was used to assess the relationship between BMI and blood pressure parameters.

A statistically significant increase in all blood pressure phenotypes (SBP, DBP, PP, MAP) was observed with increasing BMI (p < 0.001). Group 2 participants had higher blood pressure than Group 1, while Group 3 participants showed significantly elevated values compared to both Group 1 and Group 2. A positive correlation was identified between BMI and SBP (r = 0.61), DBP (r = 0.58), PP (r = 0.49), and MAP (r = 0.62), all with p-values < 0.001.

Obesity in young adults is significantly associated with elevated blood pressure. Early identification and intervention may prevent the onset of hypertension and its complications in later life.