Two newly published studies strengthen reports of a link between childhood obesity and the increased risk of adult cardiovascular disease, according to the June American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN). This little-researched topic is gaining more attention as scientists are beginning to understand how overweight and obesity affects children's health later in life and their longevity.
One of the studies, conducted over a 57-year period in Great Britain, found a direct association between childhood Body Mass Index (BMI) and adult cardiovascular disease mortality. BMI, a mathematical relationship between weight and height, is an excellent indicator of body fat content in the general population. The study also found a more general association between childhood BMI and adult increased mortality from all causes.
Conducted among 1,165 men and 1,234 women whose heights and weights were measured as children, the study suggests that the prevention of obesity in children may be one way to prevent adult diseases associated with obesity. But, the authors note, "Östrategies aimed at reducing weight in childhood are important but may only affect adult health if such weight reduction persists in adulthood."
"This study supports the view that childhood overweight is associated with increased mortality risk later in life," said the study's primary author, David J. Gunnell, Ph.D., of the University of Bristol. "But, obese children tend to become obese adults, so the interesting question raised from this study is whether the participants who died ó whether of cardiovascular disease or another cause ó remained obese into adulthood. We do not know the participants' BMIs at their time of death."
A second study, also in the June AJCN, found a clustering of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol and high blood glucose, among obese adolescents.
Conducted among 1,366 adolescents ages 12-16 in Taiwan, the study found that approximately 70 percent of obese boys had one risk factor other than obesity, and 25 percent had two or more. Obese girls had a significantly higher prevalence of high blood pressure and a higher prevalence f risk factors than nonobese girls.
"We found that the mean BMI increased steadily in children with more CVD risk factors ó that is, the more risk factors, the higher the BMI," said primary author Nain-Feng Chu, Ph.D., speaking from the Harvard School of Public Health. "This was a significant finding, as the cardiovascular disease rate is increasing in Taiwan due to the growing availability of a high-fat, high-energy diet and an increasingly sedentary lifestyle."
Both new studies support other recent research showing a relationship between overweight children and heart disease risk factors, including another study published in the June issue of AJCN. The study, conducted among 41 overweight and obese primary school children in the United States, showed a correlation between the degree of obesity and the prevalence of blood variables linked to heart disease and diabetes.
For the treatment of childhood obesity, another new development is reported in the June issue of AJCN. This study showed that when parents of obese children were targeted for the treatment of their child's weight loss, the children were more successful than when they attempted to lose weight by themselves.
The American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS) is the principal professional organization of nutrition research scientists in the United States. It is comprised of more than 3,500 members from more than 40 countries. The purpose of the Society is to develop and extend knowledge of nutrition; to facilitate contact among investigators in nutrition and related fields of interest; to promote education and training in nutrition research; and to support the dissemination, utilization and application of nutrition science. The American Society for Clinical Nutrition (ASCN) is the premier scientific society for clinical nutritionists in medicine and health sciences. ASCN is the clinical division of ASNS. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition is the official journal of ASCN.