| Description: |
Childhood obesity is an impending global epidemic in both developing and developed countries. With a dramatic rise over the last 30 years, it has become a major public health concern due to its association with several comorbidities, including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Where the worldwide prevalence of hypertension among school children varies between 1.8- 3.5%, the prevalence is 3 times greater among Bangladeshi obese children. Childhood hypertension could give rise to future hypertension in adulthood. Persistent hypertension in children could be associated with target organ damages, such as Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), atherosclerosis. comparatively narrow retinal arterioles, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Though asymptomatic, most hypertensive children are diagnosed with ESRD at their first clinical diagnosis. Therefore, to help reduce the future burden, early detection of hypertension among obese children and their treatment, especially lifestyle modification, are of great importance. This paper discusses the relationship of childhood obesity with hypertension and associated comorbidities, and the recommended screening of hypertension in each child at age 3. |