“Adoption of free meals is associated with decreases in average body mass index [BMI] scores and childhood obesity prevalence, which are closely linked to risk of high blood pressure,” said senior researcher Jessica Jones-Smith, a professor of health, society and behavior at the University of California, Irvine’s Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health. “So in addition to directly affecting blood pressure through provision of healthier meals, a second pathway by which providing universal free meals might impact blood pressure is through their impact on lowering risk for high BMI.”

For the full story, please visit https://www.healthday.com/health-news/child-health/free-school-meals-linked-to-less-high-blood-pressure-among-children.