Childhood Obesity and Adult Coronary Heart Disease

Studies have established a link between childhood obesity and adult coronary heart disease. Obese children also have an increased chance of developing serious medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which are known to increase the odds of developing heart disease later in life.

Features

• A classification system known as the body-mass index, or BMI, compares the body weight of an individual against national averages. A child with a BMI rating of 95 percent or greater, meaning his weight is higher than 95 percent of all children of the same sex and age group, is classified as obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 19 percent of children in the United States fall into the obese category. Obesity, along with the health conditions that often accompany it, can increase the risk of developing adult coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease occurs when fatty materials accumulate in the blood vessels leading to the heart. This limits the blood flow to the heart, which can result in a heart attack or heart failure.

Significance

• A 2007 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine drew a direct link between childhood obesity and the development of coronary heart disease in adulthood. The study, which reviewed the medical records of more than 276,000 schoolchildren born in Denmark between 1930 and 1976, concluded that individuals with a high childhood BMI rating were more likely to develop coronary heart disease as adults than those with a lower BMI rating.

Considerations

• Obesity in children often results from a combination of a high-fat, calorie-dense diet and insufficient physical activity. In addition to raising the risk of future heart problems, inactivity and overeating may contribute to the development of serious conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and high levels of bad cholesterol, all of which also increase the odds of developing coronary heart disease.

Prevention/Solution

• Childhood obesity may be prevented or corrected with a healthy diet and adequate physical activity, though physicians also sometimes recommend surgery or prescription weight-loss medications to combat this condition. A family doctor should determine the best course of action to safely and effectively manage a child's weight. Adults can lower their risk of developing coronary heart disease through diet and exercise and by avoiding risk factors such as smoking cigarettes and eating foods high in sodium. Coronary heart disease may be treated with surgery, medication, changes to eating and exercise habits, or any combination of the above.

Warning

• According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the leading cause of death in the United States among both men and women is heart disease. In addition to increasing the risk of heart problems, childhood obesity also can contribute to the development of other serious medical conditions such as liver disease and respiratory ailments.