Body Profile Impact on Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile in Rural and Urban Schoolchildren of a Brazilian Semiarid Region in The State of Bahia

Abstract

Background:

The present study describes the prevalence of excess weight, obesity, and high blood pressure (BP) in children from a Brazilian semiarid region (Sertão) and its association with lipid profile and area of residence.

Objective:

To describe the prevalence of excess weight, obesity, and high BP in children, as well as the association between these variables, lipid profile, and area of residence.

Methods:

Thi work is a cross-sectional study conducted with schoolchildren, aged 6 to 10 years, from three municipalities in the countryside of Brazil. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and BP, together with the analysis of lipid markers, were assessed. Z-scores (BMI-Age) were used to determine the anthropometric classification. Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) were meseared with eight hours of fasting. The Student’s t-test and the Mann-Whitney test were aplied. Perceptual maps were constructed through multiple correspondence analysis. A p-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The Institution's Ethics Committee approved this study (CAAE: 35038914.3.0000.5544).

Results:

Among 138 schoolchildren in this study, 76 (55.07%) were female and 81 (58.7%) were from urban areas. Twenty-one children (15.2%) were overweight, and 44 (31.9%) had a family history of obesity. Children from rural areas showed higher levels of TC (p = 0.041) and systolic BP (p = 0.028). The correlation between excess weight and a family history of obesity (p = 0.029), TG (p = 0.003), TG/HDL ratio (p = 0.009), systolic BP (p = 0.000), and WC (p = 0.000) were observed. In the correspondence analysis, the eutrophic group presented expected values for lipid variables.

Conclusion:

Overweight indicators are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors, reinforcing the need for early monitoring.