Food Insecurity Linked to High Blood Pressure in Kids
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Food insecurity is an important contributor to hypertension during childhood, a new analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) suggests. Researchers found that children and adolescents who lack good access to nutritional foods are more likely to have high blood pressure than their peers with secure access to food.
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@ence Food insecurity was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) food security survey module. Blood pressure was measured three times and averaged. High blood pressure was defined as systolic or diastolic blood pressure in the 90th percentile for children younger than 13 and a measurement of 120/80 mm Hg or higher for children 13 years and older, a reported diagnosis of hypertension, or reported current use of an antihypertensive medication.