Association between lifestyle modifications and improvement of early cardiac damage in children and adolescents with excess weight and/or high blood pressure

In a pediatric population referred for excess weight, high BP, or both (n = 278, 10.6 (2.3) years), echocardiography was performed at enrollment and after 15 months of follow-up, during which participants received nonpharmacological treatment, based on correcting unhealthy lifestyles and improving dietary habits. At baseline, 33.1% of study participants were hypertensive, 52.9% obese, and 36.3% had LVH. At follow-up, the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and LVH was 18.7%, 30.2%, and 22.3%. A decrease in left ventricular mass index from 37.1 to 35.2 g/m^2.7 was observed. In conclusion, in a pediatric population at cardiovascular risk, changing incorrect lifestyle and dietary habits is associated with both reduction of BMI and BP values and regression of early cardiac damage.