Revista da Educação Física (Aug 2011)

<b>The relationship between body mass index, autonomic indicators of heart rate and blood pressure levels in children</b> - doi: 10.4025/reveducfis.v22i3.10289

  • Kleiner Márcio de Andrade Nemezio,
  • Ralmony de Alcantara Santos,
  • Rômulo Cássio de Moraes Bertuzzi,
  • Flávio de Oliveira Pires,
  • Adriano Eduardo Lima da Silva

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 3
pp. 441 – 449

Abstract

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The objective of this study was verify whether overweight and hypertension are related to changes in cardiac autonomic control (CAC). Twenty male children (11,8 ± 0,9 years), ten overweight and ten in appropriate weight participated in the study. After measurement of heart rate variability (HRV), the systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured. The results indicated that overweight children have elevated levels of SBP (117,0 ± 11,6 vs 101,0 ± 8,8 mmHg) and DBP (70,0 ± 4,7 vs 61,0 ± 5,7), when compared to the eutrophic group. However, the HRV was similar between the groups, indicating an apparent normality in CAC. There was a correlation between DBP and low frequency spectral component (LF), an indicator of sympathetic activity (r = 0,611). In conclusion, overweight does not appear to affect CAC in this age group, but may contribute to high blood pressure (BP) levels.

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