| Abstract |
Background: Body mass index (BMI) is an important tool for assessing nutritional status. Increased cases of obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases particularly among adults in developing countries, requires documentation of relevant data for checkmating these health problems. Aims & Objective: The study aimed to determine the association of blood pressure, BMI, and age among Punjabis of Gurmandi area of Delhi. Materials and Methods: A total of 148 males and 140 females ranging in age from 18-50 years were studied. The subjects were divided into 4 different age groups to study age trend with respect to blood pressure and BMI as well as gender differences. Results: The normal, underweight, obese, and overweight of the BMI range of the male adults were 47.3%, 13.5%; 14.2% and 25% respectively and for females the different categories of BMI were, 43.5% normal, 18.6% obese and 24.3% were overweight. The relationship between BMI, SBP, DBP and age were statistically significant. Conclusion: A high magnitude of overweight and obesity was observed.BMI was found to increase with age, with significant gender differences-females having higher mean values than males. Males were taller and heavier(except in the later age groups). More males were overweight whereas more females were obese. Both SBP and DBP increased with age and the gender differences were statistically significant. Prehypertension was more among males as compared to females. The correlation between BMI and blood pressure (SBP,DBP) was positive and statistically significant.
KEYWORDS: Age; Body Mass Index (BMI); Blood Pressure(SBP,DBP); Punjabis
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