[Relationship between body composition index and blood pressure among children aged 7-12].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between body composition index and blood pressure of children, and to provide bases for early prevention against adult diseases.

METHODS

A total of 4326 children aged 7 - 12 participated in this study, with height, weight, skinfold thickness (SFT) and blood pressure (BP) of all subjects measured. Body fat percentage (BF%) were calculated by regression equation, fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated according to following expressions: FMI (kg/m(2)) = BF% × weight/height(2) and FFMI (kg/m(2)) = (weight - BF% × weight)/height(2).

RESULTS

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were positively correlated with FMI and FFMI in both boys and girls. Correlation coefficients between SBP, DBP and FMI were 0.432 - 0.531, 0.316 - 0.450 for boys, and 0.413 - 0.485, 0.345 - 0.421 for girls respectively and the correlation coefficients between SBP, DBP and FFMI were 0.214 - 0.366, 0.090 - 0.250 for boys, and 0.108 - 0.383, 0.063 - 0.214 for girls respectively. The coefficient between BP and FMI were larger than those between BP and FFMI. The mean values of FMI and FFMI of children with high BP were significantly higher than those normal children, especially showed in FMI.

CONCLUSION

In order to prevent hypertension among children, priority should be concentrated on controlling body fat and preventing obesity.