Which metric beyond weight should be monitored during follow-up?

• A. Growth charts and height-for-age
• B. Liver enzyme levels
• C. Blood pressure
• D. Bone density

Answer: (C)

Monitoring blood pressure during follow-up is essential because excess weight in children often comes with higher cardiovascular risk, including the development of hypertension. Tracking BP plus weight gives a fuller picture of vascular health and helps catch elevated pressures early, which can be addressed with lifestyle changes or further evaluation. In kids, blood pressure is interpreted using percentiles that consider age, sex, and height, with hypertension defined as an average BP at or above the 95th percentile on multiple visits. Regular measurement should be done with the child seated after a few minutes of rest, using a properly sized cuff, and repeated across separate visits to confirm findings. While other tests can be useful in specific situations, blood pressure is the most important additional metric to monitor routinely beyond weight in pediatric obesity follow-up.