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Rapid weight gain in childhood linked to high blood pressure

03/09/2008

Rapid weight gain in early childhood may be linked with increased blood pressure in adulthood, according to a new report.

Researchers found that babies that gain weight more rapidly in the first five months after birth and from the ages of two to five have higher systolic blood pressure in adulthood.

Immediate weight gain after birth and low birth-weight are also linked to higher adult diastolic blood pressure.

Researchers evaluated 670 adults whose growth patterns were measured 14 times between birth and the age of five.

It was found that weight gain occurring between birth and five months and one year, nine months and five years had the biggest influence on blood pressure in adulthood.

Today's report allows researchers to better understand what drives the increase in the average blood pressure as people age.

"From a public health perspective, the results are important," professor Yoav Ben-Shlomo, from the University of Bristol and lead author of the study, said.

"If children put on more post-natal weight today than they did in the past, then we could better predict that the burden of high blood pressure will increase in the future.

"It is more important to ensure children eat a healthy diet, without too much processed foods and high salt snacks, and encourage your children to be involved in regular exercise so that they establish sensible habits which they can maintain into their adult lives."