New research shows that overweight and obese children are at risk for developing high blood pressure as adults. Children who are overweight are twice as likely to develop the condition. And kids who are obese are four times as likely to develop it.
Pediatric cardiologists are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of overweight and obese children and adolescents who already have obesity-related diseases like hypertension, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, according to paper by Dr. Sarita Dhuper that was published in the June issue of Pediatric Drugs.
Obesity is fast becoming the major cause of premature death in the developed world because obesity increases the risk of developing other diseases, not previously seen in teens and children. The article reviews the literature and recent scientific statements and recommendations by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) about the metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity, including newer identification and treatment strategies for obesity, dyslipidemia, and early subclinical coronary artery disease seen in high-risk children and adolescents.
Click here to access the article. Or, if you’d like to order a reprint, email Dr. Dhuper at sdhuper@livelight.org.