The Association between Parental Weight Status and Risk of Hypertension in Children Aged 6 to 12 Years: A Cross-sectional Study in Shanghai, China

Background Parents may play important roles in the regulation of children’s weight status and consequently risk of childhood HTN. However, data relating parental dietary/lifestyle characteristics to risk of HTN in their children is sparse. Objective Using parental weight status as a marker of their dietary and lifestyle habits, we aimed to examine the association between parental weight status and risk of hypertension (HTN) in their children. Methods A total of 1,949 children aged 6 to 12 years (1,012 girls) and their parents were enrolled. Information on demographics, anthropometrics, lifestyle, diet, and medical history were obtained from the participants and their parents through self-administered questionnaires. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of prevalent HTN in children in relation to parental weight status are presented. Results The HTN prevalence in children was 8.4%, with no significant gender difference (9.0% in boys vs. 7.8% in girls...