A STUDY ON BMI AND SKINFOLD THICKNESSES AS PREDICTORS OF BLOOD PRESSURE LEVEL IN ADOLESCENTS
Leko Bankole J.*, Hakeem B. Fawehinmi and Oladipo G. S.
ABSTRACT
Hypertension is a global health challenge. Hence, the need for better understanding to promote awareness on its early detection and treatment is now emphasized in preventive medicine. This study examined the relationship between body mass index, skinfold thicknesses and blood pressure levels among adolescent children and attempts to find a better predictor for blood pressure. The subjects consisted of 522 adolescent (293 females and 229 males), ages 11 to 15 years, from secondary schools within Port-Harcourt, south-south, Nigeria. The height, weight and three skinfold thicknesses of the subjects were measured. Body mass Index was calculated in kg/m2. Blood pressure readings were recorded. Data obtained were analysed for descriptive statistics, ANOVA and t-test were used to determine the age and sex-related differences among variables. Pearson correlation coefficients for the association between BMI ,skindold thicknesses and blood pressure were evaluated. The results showed that the mean age, BMI, Triceps skinfold, suprascapular and medial calf skinfold thickneses were; 12.66±1.39years; 18.42±3.09kg/m2, 8.18±4.13mm, 7.27±3.44mm, 8.67±4.03mm respectively.There was a statistically significant difference in the BMI and skinfold thicknesses between males and females for the entire sample studied (p<0.05) and no significant difference in blood pressure in respect to sex . Also, all variables, at different levels, showed statistical significance difference in respect to successive age group (p<0.05). BMI correlated positively and significantly with systolic blood pressure while no skinfold thicknesses except subscapular skinfold thickness correlated significantly with blood pressure. It therefore follows that both indices for general and central adiposity may be better predictors of blood pressure level than skinfold thicknesses used for assessment of regional adiposity.
Keywords: body mass Index, skinfold thicknesses, blood pressure, adolescent.
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