Epidemiology of obesity and high blood pressure among school-age children from military families: the largest report from our region

BACKGROUND: For the first time, we aimed to determine the epidemiology and associated factors of obesity and hypertension among children of military families in our region. METHODS: In this multi-centered study, children between the ages of 5 to 12 years old, entered the study. Data on baseline and clinical characteristics, history of disease and anthropometric measurements, were collected. RESULTS: Among 504 children, 44.2% were males. Mean (SD) age of participants was 7.9 ± 1.9 years. Overall, 5% were obese and 9.9% were overweight. In total, 16.3% had elevated BP, 12.5% had stage one and 0.2% had stage two hypertension. Age (beta = 0.306, OR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.14—1.61), obesity/overweight (OR = 5.58, 95% CI:2.59—12.0), history of hypertension in mother (OR = 43.24, 95% CI:5.99—312.11), low birth weight (OR = 7.96, 95% CI:2.59—12.0), physical activity (OR = 0.27, 95% CI:0.10—0.72), and consumption of fast food more than once a week (OR = 3.36, 95% CI:1.82—6.19), were associated with risk of hypertension. Furthermore, age (beta = 0.346, OR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.21—1.64), history of childhood obesity in the father (OR = 3.78, 95% CI: 1.77—8.06) and mother (OR = 2.44, 95% CI:1.07—5.56), and physical activity (OR = 0.27, 95% CI:0.11—0.66), were associated with obesity. CONCLUSION: Age, obesity/overweight, history of hypertension in the mother, birth weight, physical activity, and consumption of fast food, were associated with risk of hypertension. Moreover, age, history of childhood obesity in parents, and physical activity, were associated with obesity. Furthermore, we found that school-age children in military families have higher rates of hypertension and overweight compared to other reports from our region. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12887-023-03839-z.