A research carried out by a hospital in Vancouver, Canada, showed that obese children carry a greater risk of developing atherosclerosis. And this precursor of cardiovascular accidents and early mortality is usually seen in people in their 50s.
The Researchers conducted a study on children with average of 13. They measured the blood pressure, blood lipid levels and body mass index (BMI) of 63 obese children and 55 youngsters of normal size and weight.
At the early age of 13, the researchers identified deterioration in the elasticity of the arteries in the obese children.
This is an distressing result. These, it is an increasing phenomenon for young kids to stayed glued to computers and video games instead of engaging in physical activity. Such sedentary lifestyle is a precursor for child obesity and obesity later in life.
Child obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. The prevalence of child obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming obese and developing related diseases.
