Body mass index during childhood and puberty: associations with blood pressure and hypertension
Authors' conclusion
These findings indicate that high blood pressure may originate in early life.
Study context
- Population
- Men and women with developmental body mass index (BMI) (Gothenburg) linked to midlife BP data (SCAPIS)
- Participants
- 2,394 men
- Exposure
- Childhood BMI and pubertal BMI change vs midlife BP and hypertension
- Outcome
- SBP, DBP and hypertension
- Follow-up
- Midlife
Methodological detailslinked cohorts (BMI Epidemiology Study Gothenburg and SCAPIS), mediation analysis
- Linked cohorts (BMI Epidemiology Study Gothenburg and SCAPIS)
- Mediation analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Pubertal BMI change positively associated with SBP, DBP and hypertension in midlife, independent of childhood BMI, in men and women
P < 0.01
Childhood BMI positively associated with SBP and DBP in midlife, independent of pubertal BMI change, in men but not women
P < 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mediation by midlife BMI
- Associations of pubertal BMI change with BP and hypertension largely mediated by midlife BMI
Original publication
Body mass index during childhood and puberty: associations with blood pressure and hypertension. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 25 June 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it