Association Between Maternal Hypertension and Childhood Obesity

Pathophysiology and Risk Factors

• The American Heart Association recognizes that pathological studies have shown both the presence and extent of atherosclerotic lesions at autopsy correlate positively with established risk factors, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index 1, 2
• The relationship between maternal hypertension and childhood obesity may be part of a broader pattern of cardiovascular risk factor clustering that begins in early childhood 3

Prevention and Management

• The American Heart Association recommends reasonable strategies for hypertension prevention including maintenance of normal BMI, consuming a DASH-type diet, avoiding excessive sodium consumption, and regular vigorous physical activity 4, 5
• Multiple risk factors, including obesity and hypertension, may lead to greater increases in cardiovascular risk than explained by individual risk factors alone, suggesting the importance of comprehensive management 4, 6