The American Heart Association has found after a study, that Obese children can quadruple the risk of developing high blood pressure in adulthood, and those who are overweight, duplicate it.
The research has been presented to the Scientific Sessions held recently, having studied 1117 healthy adolescents in Indianapolis for 27 years (beginning in 1986).
One in three American children and adolescents are overweight or obese, which means that their body mass index is at least the 85th percentile or at least the 95th percentile for their age and sex, respectively. BMI is the relationship between height and weight.
One in three! small figures, though In Spain, we are not 'short' (Unfortunately): According to the Aladdin report of two years ago, 43% of children between six and nine years of age were overweight or obese, and a few months later, the Thao Foundation told us that these diseases were also appearing in children of between three and five years.
Let's return to the Study, the presentation of arterial hypertension has been followed in the adult life of all participants, and it has been found that of those who had a normal weight during childhood / adolescence, six percent are hypertensive, compared to 14%. one hundred of those who were overweight, and 26 percent of those who were obese. The figures cannot be clearer.
Sara E. Watson, is the author of the study and researcher of pediatric endocrinology at Riley Children's Hospital (University of Indiana / Indianapolis), in her opinion, there is less and less doubt about heart disease can begin in childhood. Recommends that children should exercise, eat a healthy diet and reduce salt intake, to avoid the risk of associated hypertension in overweight, obesity and stress. 'Pediatricians should be able to convey education about these habits to families.'
That overweight and childhood obesity constitute a threat to public health and individual well-being, we can't doubt it anymore. They have already talked about their relationship with cardiovascular problems, and even with the appearance of allergic type asthma.
There is evidence to indicate that these are preventable pathologies (avoiding energy imbalance), and yet we increasingly have a more passive lifestyle and a less healthy diet, which does not help to improve incidence rates (beyond the figures hide many individual and family problems).
