Obesity-Linked Woes Boost Kids' Lifetime Heart Risk

'Metabolic syndrome' includes higher blood pressure, cholesterol

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

Related Encyclopedia • Abdominoplasty • Acne • Alagille Syndrome • Alzheimer's Disease More... Related Healthscout Videos Nutrition and Cancer Nutrition and Osteoporosis Importance of Good Nutrition Picture Perfect Smile More... Related Animations • ADHD • Allergy • Alzheimer's Disease Video Animation • Angioplasty More... Related Drug Information • Accupril • Actonel • Adderal XR • Altace More... Related News Articles • Weekends Tough on the Diet • Health Tip: Living With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Extends Survival After Cardiac Arrest • Some Sweeteners Inhibit Enzyme Tied to Type 2 Diabetes More...

FRIDAY, Aug. 10 (HealthDay News) -- Obese children diagnosed with health problems collectively known as the "metabolic syndrome" are at higher risk for developing heart disease as adults, new research reveals.

Compared to healthier youngsters, school-age children with the condition face a 14.5 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease when they reached their 30s and 40s, the study found.

Text Continues Below

---

Components of the syndrome include high blood pressure, high body mass, high blood pressure and high triglycerides (blood fats).

"I wasn't exactly shocked, but this is the first time we have shown that children who have this constellation of factors known as metabolic syndrome are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in their adult years," said study lead author John A. Morrison, a research professor of pediatrics who also works in the division of cardiology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio.

The findings are published in the August issue of Pediatrics.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 50 million Americans have the metabolic syndrome. The condition is typically diagnosed on the basis of having at least three of the following characteristics: abdominal obesity; high blood pressure; insulin resistance (in which the body can't process insulin or blood sugar properly); a high risk for arterial plaque build-up due to high levels of triglycerides, low HDL ("good") cholesterol and high LDL ("bad") cholesterol; and a high risk for clotting and inflammation as indicated by the elevated presence of certain blood proteins.

Researchers long ago established that, for adults, having the metabolic syndrome increases their risk for both heart disease and diabetes. Physicians now recommend that patients combating the condition embark on a weight-loss program geared toward developing healthier eating habits and increased physical activity.

Page:  1 | 2 | 3 | Next >>