Ellisras Longitudinal Study 2017: the association of fat patterning with blood pressure in Polokwane private school children aged five to 15 years (ELS 22).

Background: Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases and is a global public health concern.

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to investigate the association of fat patterning and blood pressure among five- to 15-year-old black children attending private schools in Polokwane, South Africa, and to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension.

Methods: A total of 1 665 subjects (846 boys and 819 girls), aged five to 15 years and attending three private schools in Polokwane, were included in the study. All anthropometric measurements were taken according to standard procedures of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. All data were analysed using SPSS.

Results: Girls showed a higher prevalence of over-fatness (10.2-12.3%) and hypertension (1.4-33.0%) than boys (7.3-10.3, 3.6-21.3%, respectively). The sum of four skinfolds, trunk skinfolds relative to limb skinfold, and body mass index (BMI) were positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01). There was a significant positive (p < 0.001) association between over-fatness and hypertension, both unadjusted (OR = 3.11; 95% CI = 2.17-4.46) and adjusted for age and gender (OR = 3.29; 95% CI = 2.22-4.86).

Conclusions: These Polokwane private school children with high body fatness were at risk for developing high blood pressure.