Blood Pressure Rates Surge in Children Worldwide, Study Finds
The ‘alarming’ increase is believed to be largely related to the concurrent rise in global rates of obesity, academics said.
A patient has his blood pressure checked at a Remote Area Medical (RAM) mobile dental and medical clinic at Terre Haute South High School in 2025.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Rates of high blood pressure in children have almost doubled since the turn of the century amid rising levels of childhood obesity, a global study has found.
More than one in 20 children and teenagers, 6.2 percent, were believed to have high blood pressure in 2020—up from 3.2 percent in 2000.
Rachel Roberts
Author
Rachel Roberts is a London-based journalist with a background in local then national news. She focuses on health and education stories and has a particular interest in vaccines and issues impacting children.
