15 Jul Childhood obesity linked to poor heart health at 11-12 years
A new study has found toddlers who were obese or overweight show concerning signs of cardiovascular disease at 11-12 years of age.
The study found Australian children who were obese or overweight very early in life already show evidence by age 11-12 years of stiffer arteries, thickened arterial lining and are a high risk of later developing metabolic syndrome. This worsened the longer these young children were overweight or obese.
Research at a Glance:
- A new Melbourne-led study has shown high Body Mass Index (BMI) from as young as 2-3 years of age is associated with poor heart health at 11-12 years
- 1811 children had their height and weight measured every two years over a decade. At age 11 the children underwent a full heart health assessment
- The study found cumulative obesity and being overweight throughout childhood increased cardiovascular disease risk by 11-12 years
The findings highlight the silent effects of obesity in childhood and the need to intervene early.
The study, published in Pediatrics, found Australian children who were obese or overweight very early in life already show evidence by age 11-12 years of stiffer arteries, thickened arterial lining and are a high risk of later developing metabolic syndrome. This worsened the longer these young children were overweight or obese.
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Professor Melissa Wake said the study highlighted the silent effects of obesity in childhood and the need to intervene early.
“Public health efforts are needed in the very early years to prevent problems with obesity and being overweight, to avoid the risk of adolescent and adult cardiovascular disease,” she said.
“Our findings are in line with the World Health Organization’s calls for urgent collaborative action to address the matter through systems-based approaches and policy implementation. “Such policies include increasing taxes on processed foods high in fat and sugar, safer and improved public transport and walking to school pathways and making community-based sporting activities more affordable and accessible.”
(MCRI) Dr Kate Lycett said until now little was known about when and how early life BMI impacted heart health in childhood and most studies have previously just looked at standard risk factors such as blood pressure alone.
“Previous studies have tended to rely on a single BMI measurement in childhood and then examined subsequent heart health outcomes in adulthood,” she said.
“This overlooks the considerable BMI changes as part of normal childhood growth.”
The study involved 1811 children from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children whose weight and height were measured every two years (age 0-1 to 9-10 years) to determine cardiovascular disease risk scores. At age 11-12, the participants underwent further health checks looking at blood pressure, blood vessel health, cholesterol and glucose levels.
Dr Lycett said the obesity epidemic was a major threat to public health.
“This public health crisis threatens the modest decline in cardiovascular deaths in developed countries, which has largely been achieved through preventive efforts focused on cardiovascular risk factors,” she said.
“Policy changes to reign in this epidemic require strong support from the clinical community if they are to be realised.”
Publication: Kate Lycett, Markus Juonala, Costan G Magnussen, David Norrish, Fiona K Mensah, Richard Liu, Susan A Clifford, John B Carlin, Tim Olds, Richard Saffery, Jessica A Kerr, Sarath Ranganathan, Louise A Baur, Matthew A Sabin, Michael Cheung, Terence Dwyer, Mengjiao Liu, David Burgner and Melissa Wake. ‘Body mass index from early to late childhood and cardiometabolic measurements at 11-12 years,’ Pediatrics.
Researchers from Deakin University, The Royal Children’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne, Turku University Hospital in Finland, University of Turku, Menzies Institute for Medical Research in Hobart, Australian National University, University of South Australia, The University of Sydney, University of Oxford in the UK and Monash University also contributed to the findings.
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