High BMI in Childhood Linked to Greater Heart Disease Risk in Adolescence

Researchers have recently discovered that children with a high body mass index (BMI) between the ages of 9 to 12 lead to a higher risk of developing heart disease during adolescence. Having a high BMI when young causes the child to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood insulin levels between the ages of 15 and 16. These conclusions come from a study led by Professor Debbie Lawlor. In this study, 5,235 children between the ages of 9-12 had their BMI, waist circumference and fat mass measured. Then when the children reached adolescence, their cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin levels were tested. If the tests came out positive, then that person had a risk factor for heart disease. The study showed that if a person was overweight when tested between the ages of 9 – 12 but dropped to normal weight for the testing at ages 15-16, the child had a better heart disease profile a than child who wasn overweight.

This article interests me because there is a high prevalence of obesity and heart disease in the United States. With this information, if we can decrease obesity while children are still young then we can also decrease the prevalence of heart disease in the United States. If we can decrease obesity then we can kill two birds with one stone.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/11/101125202018.htm