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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Obesity in children has been linked to diabetes, low self-esteem and other problems. Now, research is showing that obese kids may have another problem lurking -- heart disease.
The neck arteries of obese children look more like those of a 45-year-old, according to new research. Theres a saying that youre as old as your arteries, meaning that the state of your arteries is more important than your actual age in the evolution of heart disease and stroke, Geetha Raghuveer, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, was quoted as saying.
Researchers used ultrasound to measure the thickness of the inner walls of the carotid arteries. Thickness of the carotid artery indicates fatty buildups of plaque, which can lead to heart attack and stroke. Researchers studies 34 boys and 36 girls (average age of 13) who were considered at-risk.
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Results showed the children had abnormal levels of one or more types of cholesterol, high body mass index (BMI) and an average carotid artery thickness of .45 millimeters, which would typically be seen in someone about 30 years older than the children studied.
SOURCE: American Heart Associations Scientific Sessions 2008, Nov. 8-12, 2008 in New Orleans, La.
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