FUNDAMENTO: Aumento do índice de massa corporal (IMC) e da circunferência abdominal (CA) tem sido associado a elevação da pressão arterial. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do IMC e da CA sobre a pressão arterial (PA) de adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Estudo analítico de corte transversal. Selecionados 536 adolescentes, alunos de escolas públicas e privadas. Foram calculados IMC, classificado como normal alto (>p50 <p85), sobrepeso (>p85 <p95) e obesidade (>p95). Mediu-se a CA, aumentada se>p75 e a PA, elevada se >p90. RESULTADOS: Trezentos e dezenove (59,5%) indivíduos eram meninas, idade de 14,0± 1,99 anos, peso normal alto em 39,6%, sobrepeso em 37,1% e obesidade em 23,3%. O percentual de PAS e PAD elevadas acompanhou a elevação do IMC (p=0,000), alcançando 46,4% nos meninos e 39,3% nas meninas obesas (PAS) e 42,0% e 44,6% (PAD), respectivamente. PAS e PAD elevadas foram 3,9 a 3,4 vezes mais freqüente nos meninos, e 2,2 a 2,0 vezes mais nas meninas com CA > p75, respectivamente. Pela análise de regressão linear simples cada aumento no IMC aumentaria a PAS em 1,198 mmHg e da CA em 0,622 mmHg. A razão de prevalência (RP) de PAS e PAD elevadas em razão do IMC>p85 foi 3,9(I.C. 95% 2,0-7,4[p=0,000]) e 4,3(I.C. 95% 2,2-8,5[p=0,000]), respectivamente, e em razão da CA>p75 de 1,8(IC 95% 1,0 a 3,0 [p=0,036]) e 1,4(IC 95% 0,8 a 2,4). Encontrou-se em 16/181(8,8%) dos adolescentes com peso normal alto, PA>P90 com CA>p75. CONCLUSÃO: Os valores do IMC e da CA têm forte influência sobre os valores da PA de adolescentes.

BACKGROUND: Increased body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) have been associated with blood pressure elevation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of BMI and WC on blood pressure (BP) of adolescents. METHODS: Cross-sectional analytical study including 536 adolescents from public and private schools. BMI was calculated and classified as high-normal (> 50th p and < 85th p), overweight (> 85th p and < 95th p), and obesity (> 95th p). WC was measured and considered increased if > 75th p. BP was considered elevated if > 90th p. RESULTS: 319 (59.5%) adolescents were girls, the mean age was 14.0± 1.99 years, high-normal weight was found in 39.6%, overweight in 37.1% and obesity in 23.3%. The percentage of high SBP and DBP followed the increase in BMI (p=0.000), reaching 46.4% among boys and 39.3% among obese girls for SBP and 42.0% and 44.6% for DBP, respectively. High SBP and DBP were 3.9 and 3.4 times more frequent among boys and 2.2 to 2.0 times more frequent among girls with WC > 75th p, respectively. Using simple linear regression analysis, each increment in BMI would increase SBP by 1.198 mmHg, and in WC by 0.622 mmHg. The PR for elevated SBP and DBP in relation to BMI > 85th p was 3.9 (95% CI 2.0-7.4[p=0.000]) and 4.3(95% CI 2.2-8.5[p=0.000]), respectively; in relation to WC > 75th p was 1.8(95% CI 1.0 to 3.0 [p=0.036]) and 1.4 (95% CI 0.8 to 2.4). BP > 90th p with WC < 75th p was found in 16/181 (8.8%) of the adolescents with high-normal weight. CONCLUSION: BMI and WC values have a strong influence on BP values in adolescents.