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175 FITNESS DOES NOT MITIGATE WEIGHT GAIN-ASSOCIATED BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASES IN CHILDREN

Background: : Both excessive weight and weight gain are associated with a disproportionate increase in blood pressure in children. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if physical fitness and/or activity could mitigate changes in blood pressure associated with obesity or excessive weight gain. Methods: This study was carried out from an analysis of the Health Hearts cohort, a group of school children who had been prospectively followed for cardiometabolic status in relation to physical activity, physical fitness and weight status. The current cohort represented a sub-set for whom data was available for three consecutive years, 2008–2010. Yearly fitness was measured by Leger shuttle run, activity by accelerometry, and blood pressure by automated device. Results: This study included 565 children ages 9–16; 315 boys and 250 girls. As expected both BMI and waist:hip ratio correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = .49, p<.0001; r = .47, p < .0001, respectively). Change in BMI also correlated with change in SBP (r = .19, p < .0001). Categorically, change in weight status correlated with change in blood pressure status (p = .005). Higher levels of activity and fitness were associated with lower BMI and SBP independently. However, in covariate analysis, BMI determined SBP independent of activity/fitness. Similarly, after adjustment for adiposity, physical activity/fitness did not influence SBP. Conclusions: Blood pressure in children is significantly influenced by adiposity, and while physical activity and fitness can influence the latter, they do not seem to independently reduce the blood pressure-raising effects of weight gain or obesity.