The relationship between body mass index (weight status) and hypertension in a cohort of elementary school students: a retrospective longitudinal study.

This study longitudinally investigated the relationship between childhood body mass index and hypertension in a cohort of 4th-grade students. Students who were overweight or at risk for overweight when in the 1st grade were over 4 times more likely to be overweight or at-risk-for overweight in the 4th grade than were students who were not overweight or not at risk for overweight when in the 1st grade. Students who were overweight or at risk for overweight when in the 1st grade were approximately 3 times more likely to be hypertensive or prehypertensive in the 4th grade than were students who were not overweight or not at risk for overweight when in the 1st grade.