Avoiding obesity and overweight in childhood reduces the risk of developing hypertension in adulthood. Children and adolescents who are overweight or obese are more likely to become adults with hypertension between the ages of 50 and 64.
Hypertension, called persistent high blood pressure, has become a major public health challenge in the world due to its high prevalence and the associated risk of cardiovascular disease. In 2022, more than 390 million children and adolescents aged five to 19 were overweight, of which 160 million were obese, according to WHO data.