BackgroundObesity is a risk factor for hypertension. The study observed the relationship between adolescent weight status and blood pressure (BP) and the determinants of the BP pattern in urban and rural areas.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 1000 randomly selected respondents (500 from urban and 500 from rural areas) who had anthropometry and BP measurements done. The pattern of BP measurements based on the weight status by location was observed. Statistical inferences were drawn via Chi-square and logistic regression.ResultsThe mean age for all the respondents was 13.73 years ±2.04 (13.63 ± 2.05 for urban and 13.82 ± 2.03 for rural). Systolic and diastolic BP generally increased with increasing respondents’ age, with mean pressures higher in urban areas. About 3% were obese, while 7.7% were overweight. The overall prevalence of high BP was 4.1%, with two-thirds coming from urban areas. On logistic regression analysis, the significant variables associated with high BP include being female (AOR 2.067, 95%CI1.007–4.243, p = 0.048), overweight (AOR 5.574, 95%CI 2.501–12.421, p = 0.0001) and obese (AOR 12.437, 95%CI 4.636–33.364, p = 0.0001).ConclusionHigh BP was associated with being female, overweight and obesity in both urban and rural areas. Urgent measures are needed to address increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents and consequent high blood pressure.

Females were heavier and constituted the greater proportion of those who had elevated BP. Adequate attention needs to be given to the challenging problems of overweight and obesity to forestall development of hypertension in adolescents, especially female adolescents.

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Background: Adolescent obesity is increasingly more common in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria. Obesity has been associated with metabolic derangement in adolescents in developed countries. This study compared the metabolic parameters in obese and non-obese adolescents in a developing country.Method: A cross-sectional study was performed on 1 000 adolescents selected by multi-stage sampling from eight secondary schools in Osun State, south-western Nigeria. Socio-demographic information was collected with the aid of a questionnaire. Using the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) body mass index (BMI) cut-off points, 29 obese adolescents were identified, and 29 suitably matched controls selected. The means for the anthropometric indices [height, weight and waist circumference (WC)], as well as blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose and the blood lipid levels of the obese and non-obese participants were compared using an independent t -test and one-way analysis of variance. Data were analysed using SPSS® 16.0 version. A p -value  0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 13.7 years (standard deviation 2.04). Eight of 100 (7.7%) respondents were overweight and 2.9% obese. More female than male adolescents were overweight or obese. The means for the anthropometric indices and BP increased in general across the spectrum of weight categories, from normal weight to obese. Weight, BMI, WC, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher ( p 0.05) in the obese adolescents than in the non-obese controls. The controls had a significantly higher mean high-density lipoprotein value (1.46 mmol/l) than the obese adolescents (1.21 mmol/l).Conclusion: Obese adolescents are at higher risk of metabolic diseases than non-obese adolescents. Obese adolescents in low- to middle-income countries should be targeted to adopt lifestyle changes.