(P07-042-25) The Relationship Between Blood Pressure and Body Composition Among Senior High School Adolescents in Selected Schools in Cape Coast, Ghana

Objectives: This study explored the relationship between body composition and blood pressure (BP) in Ghanaian adolescents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among Senior High School (SHS) students aged 15 to 19 years from four schools in Cape Coast, Ghana. Body composition was assessed using BMI and WHR, which were calculated from measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference. BP was also measured. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23, with Pearson Correlation Coefficient and simple regression as tools. A total of 415 students sampled randomly participated in the study.

Results: Females exhibited slightly lower mean values for age, weight, height, waist circumference, and WHR compared to males. However, females had higher mean values for hip circumference, BMI, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The mean BMI for both males and females was 21.9 kg/m², with a mean systolic blood pressure of 108.84 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of 66.98 mmHg. In males, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between BMI and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.347, p < 0.001). The correlations between WHR and other parameters (BMI: r = 0.080, p = 0.322; systolic blood pressure: r = 0.077, p = 0.337; diastolic blood pressure: r = -0.006, p = 0.939) were not statistically significant. BMI was found to significantly predict systolic blood pressure in males (β = 1.232, p < 0.001). In females, BMI weakly correlated with and predicted systolic blood pressure, while WHR showed weak inverse correlations with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that BMI is a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure in Ghanaian adolescents, particularly among males. WHR, however, did not demonstrate a strong relationship with BP in either gender. These results highlight the importance of monitoring BMI as part of public health strategies to manage obesity and prevent hypertension in adolescents.

Funding Sources: Self