High blood pressure in kids has doubled in nearly 20 years, study finds

(CNN) - Across the globe, high blood pressure in children has nearly doubled over the past two decades.

A new study found that back in 2000, rates of hypertension in boys and girls hovered around 3%.

But by 2020, those numbers had risen to around 6%.

Doctors say children with hypertension are at greater risk of developing heart disease later in life.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States.

Experts say dietary factors in children, such as consuming high levels of sodium and ultra-processed food, can contribute to their hypertension risk, along with a sedentary lifestyle.

A study describing the findings was published Wednesday in the journal The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health.