Association of physical activity and physical fitness with blood pressure profile in Maharashtrian adolescent boys and girls

The current study was conducted to determine how physical activity level and physical fitness affects the blood pressure profile of Maharashtrian adolescents to help in developing preventive strategies for the local population, as ethnic differences exist in the aetiopathogenesis of hypertension. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 485 Marathi Indian adolescent girls and boys of age group 14 -18 years. Physical activity level was assessed using Johnson Space Center/NASA Physical Activity Rating Scale and VO2max was used to assess the physical fitness. Body composition was assessed in terms of Body Mass Index, Fat Mass Index and Waist Circumference. Blood Pressure was measured by oscillometry. One-way ANOVA was used to study if any significant differences (P<0.05) existed in the blood pressure profile between the high, moderate and low physical activity groups. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was determined to assess the relationship between VO2max and blood pressure profile. In girls, physical activity level did not significantly affect the blood pressure profile. In boys, systolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure were found to be significantly higher in Moderate Physical Activity Group as compared to Low Physical Activity Group. PVO2max was found to have a significant negative correlation with systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure in girls and a significant negative correlation with systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure in boys. Better physical fitness rather than a higher physical activity level can keep the blood pressure in check in Indian adolescents. Keywords: Blood pressure; Hypertension; Indian adolescents; Physical activity;