RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the morbidity of hypertension and prehypertension and analyze the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure in Chinese college students.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This epidemiological study involved 490 Chinese college students (aged 15-25 years, mean 18.9∓1.2 years), and their body height, body weight, blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. The BMI was divided into four groups according to Chinese population standard classification.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Most students were southern Han Chinese. The incidences of overweight plus obesity and obesity were 12.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The morbidity of hypertension was 0.8% in this student population. The incidences of hypertension and pre-hypertension were higher in high BMI groups than those in low BMI groups. The systolic blood pressures were significantly higher in over-weight and obese groups than in the normal BMI and lean groups. BMI was positively correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures in this population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>High BMI is a predictor of elevated blood pressure in adolescent students.</p>