CORRELAÇÃO ENTRE OBESIDADE/SOBREPESO E PRESSÃO ARTERIAL ELEVADA EM ESCOLARES DE UMA CIDADE DO INTERIOR DE SÃO PAULO

Introduction: Currently the Brazilian pediatric population has been exposed to risk factors caused by physical inactivity and poor diet, resulting in an increase in the Body Mass Index (BMI), which can lead to vascular problems even in childhood. Objectives: to verify the influence of BMI on pressure levels. Methods: The sample consisted of 61 children of both sexes, chronological age between six and seven years and regularly enrolled / attending school. These children were evaluated in their respective hemodynamic variables (systolic and diastolic blood pressure), body weight, height.. Results: Mean and standard deviation of participants' ages were 7 (± 0.3) years, SBP had 89.4 (± 10) and DBP of 57 (± 6.9), eutrophic patients had 88, 7 (± 1.1) for SBP and 56 (± 5) for DBP and for those with Overweight / Obesity (SO) 109 (± 5) for SBP and 70.7 (± 8.2) for PAD, with p value = 0.0001, Pearson's correlation for BMI with SBP and DBP was moderate for both, but with beta of 1.53 in linear regression for SBP and 0.96 for DBP. Conclusion: BMI directly influences systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and the control of overweight / obesity is necessary at the initial ages of life.