Effect of relative weight on familial blood pressure aggregations

Because of recognized associations between body build and blood pressure in individuals, along with familial clustering of these variables, a study was undertaken to determine whether parent-child blood pressure resemblances reflect parent-child similarities in body build. Adolescents were selected to serve as propositi for the parental study from a large school population. To maximize the liklihood of demonstrating existing associations between blood pressure and the body build in family members, blood pressures and weight status of parents whose adolescent children had high blood pressures (Group I parents) were compared with similar observations in parents whose children had low blood pressures (Group II parents). Group III adolescent propositi were selected for high weight status but blood pressure below the mean for their sex group. Group I parents had higher blood pressures and body weight than did Group II parents, similar to the differences in the groups of children. Parents of Group III propositi had high body weight but blood pressure that was intermediate between the other two parent groups. Differences in Group I and III parental blood pressures, despite similar body weights, suggest that familial blood pressure resemblances cannot be solely attributed to familial similarities in body weight.