Alarming new research indicates that the number of children living with high blood pressure has nearly doubled since the turn of the millennium, with the global childhood obesity epidemic identified as the primary driver.
A Startling Global Increase
An international team of researchers, including academics from the UK and China, has uncovered a worrying trend. In 2020, more than one in 20 youngsters worldwide had high blood pressure, a condition medically known as hypertension. This figure is nearly double the 3.2 per cent recorded in the year 2000.
This surge means that high blood pressure now affects a staggering 114 million children across the globe. The findings, published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, are based on an analysis of data from 443,000 children across 21 countries.
The Obesity Connection and Hidden Diagnoses
Researchers point to the global childhood obesity crisis as the main culprit. The data reveals a stark correlation: obese children were nearly eight times more likely to develop high blood pressure than their peers of a healthy weight. In 2020, almost 19 per cent of obese children had hypertension, compared to just 2.4 per cent of children within a healthy weight range.
Dr Peige Song, a public health researcher at Zhejiang University and co-author of the study, explained that lifestyle factors are largely to blame. 'This is likely due to obesity-associated complications, such as insulin resistance and vascular changes, which disrupt normal blood pressure regulation,' she said.
The study also highlighted a potential issue with underdiagnosis. Researchers found that when blood pressure was measured outside of a doctor's office—such as at home—the rates of hypertension were higher. This suggests that relying solely on clinic measurements may be missing many cases.
An Urgent Call for Prevention and Action
Professor Igor Rudan, director of the Centre for Global Health Research at the University of Edinburgh and a study co-author, stated that the near twofold increase 'should raise alarm bells for healthcare providers and caregivers.'
High blood pressure, often symptomless, dramatically raises the long-term risk of heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and dementia. The urgency is compounded by separate NHS data showing a quarter of young adults with hypertension are failing to get it under control.
However, experts emphasise that these outcomes are preventable with early detection and intervention. Dr Song outlined crucial steps for parents, including promoting a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, minimising salt and sugar, encouraging regular physical activity, and limiting sedentary behaviours like excessive screen time. For families with a history of hypertension, regular blood pressure monitoring for children is strongly recommended.
This health crisis mirrors the escalating child obesity rates. Recent NHS data revealed that a third of children in parts of England are overweight or obese by the time they start primary school, underscoring the scale of the public health challenge.
