More Health Problems for Obese Children
June 3, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- There’s a growing epidemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Now, new research finds obese children are at an increased risk for metabolic syndrome and other cardiovascular health problems.
Metabolic syndrome is used to describe the link between insulin resistance and hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic abnormalities. Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in adults. The latest research led by doctors at Yale University Medical School in New Haven, Conn., finds the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high among obese children as well.
The study included 439 obese, 31 overweight, and 20 normal-weight children and adolescents. The participants had different measurements done including blood pressure, cholesterol, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin levels, which is a protein hormone produced by fat tissue. Investigators adjusted the levels according to age and body-mass index.
Study authors report the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased with the severity of obesity in the children. In fact, metabolic syndrome was present in half of the severely obese youngsters. They also report the prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased significantly with increasing insulin resistance. Furthermore, they say biomarkers for an increased risk of cardiovascular problems were present in the adolescents.
Researchers say during a very short follow-up period, they found eight of the participants had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Researchers point out the increase of type 2 diabetes in children may be only the “… tip of the iceberg and may herald the emergence of an epidemic of advanced cardiovascular disease.”
SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:2362-2374
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