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Relationship of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness with resting blood pressure of South African adolescents: the PAHL Study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 30, pages 245–251 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Obesity and low level of cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with high blood pressure in both adolescents and adults. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness with resting blood pressure in 14-year-old male and female adolescents. Cross-sectional data on 310 adolescents (31.8% boys) from six high schools, who were participating in the on-going Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study, were collected. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI), percentage of body fat, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, predicted and resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were assessed according to standard procedures. The prevalence of elevated SBP and DBP were 4.9% and 6.5%, respectively. The highest prevalence of elevated blood pressure (SBP=10% and DBP=15%) were measured in overweight adolescents, who also performed poorly for predicted (M=26.66 ml kg−1min−1±6.44) compared with underweight and normal-weight adolescents. Multiple regression showed that BMI was positively associated with SBP (β=0.77, P=0.005) and was negatively associated with DBP (β=−0.43, P=0.001). Overweight adolescents presented with a relatively high prevalence of elevated blood pressure and poor health-related fitness. Fatness and poor cardiorespiratory fitness were positively associated with elevated SBP and DBP, respectively. In view of the health implications of these findings, strategic interventions are needed to promote obesity-reduction programmes and physical activities in adolescents.

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Acknowledgements

The cooperation of the District Office of the Department of Education, school authorities, teachers, parents and children in the Tlokwe Municipality is greatly appreciated. We thank the fourth year (2010, 2011 honours) students in the School of Biokinetics, Recreation and Sport Science for their assistance in the collection of the data. The vital guidance of Professor Esté Vorster in the inception of the Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study is greatly appreciated. In addition, the contribution of all researchers in the Physical Activity and Health Longitudinal Study is highly appreciated. This material is based on work supported financially by the National Research Foundation and Medical Research Council of South Africa. Dr Armstrong acknowledges funding from the UK Medical Research Council and the John Fell Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Activity, Sport and Recreation Focus Area; North-West University,

    A Awotidebe, M A Monyeki, S J Moss & G L Strydom

  2. North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

    A Awotidebe, M A Monyeki, S J Moss & G L Strydom

  3. Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK

    M Amstrong

  4. EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research at VU Univesity Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    H C G Kemper

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  1. A Awotidebe
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Awotidebe, A., Monyeki, M., Moss, S. et al. Relationship of adiposity and cardiorespiratory fitness with resting blood pressure of South African adolescents: the PAHL Study. J Hum Hypertens 30, 245–251 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2015.81

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