Dietary and activity habits associated with hypertension in Kunming school-aged children and adolescents: A multilevel analysis of the study of hypertension risks in children and adolescents

Objective

Hypertension has become a public health challenge for Yunnan children and adolescents. The study aims is to assess the dietary and activity habits associated with hypertension in Kunming children and adolescents and to develop effective strategies for preventing and controlling, Southwest China.

Methods

Conducted in 2019, the cross-sectional study involved 3,150 students, aged 13.25 ± 2.77 years, multistage, stratified, randomly sampled from Chenggong and Fumin areas, Southwest China.

Results

Among 3,150 participants, 6.19 % never drank milk, 3.46 % never consumed fresh fruit. 2.67 % never consumed fresh vegetables, 2.48 % never ate breakfast and 10.06 % frequently drank sugary beverages (soft drinking). Additionally, 21.56 % engaged in moderate-intensity exercise less than one Day a week, and 31.97 % performed high-intensity exercise less than one Day a week. The intraclass correlation coefficient indicated that 49.40 % of the total variance was attributed to the dietary level and 42.10 % was attributed to the activity level. Eating fresh vegetables and fruit, taking physical education classes they attended per week and the frequency of moderate-intensity and high-intensity exercise per week were independent protective factors for hypertension (P < 0.01); drinking sugary beverages (soft drinking) was a independent risk factor against hypertension (P < 0.05); breakfast skipping was a possible risk factor for hypertension (P < 0.15). No significant associations were found with fried food or sweet food weekly consumption (P < 0.15).

Conclusions

The hypertension of children and adolescents cannot be ignored in Kunming, Southwest china. Dietary and activity factors are modifiable. We should make comprehensive child-friendly health education materials as soon as possible.