A review of research has found that young children who are obese or overweight already have raised blood pressure, cholesterol and other factors that can increase their chances of having a stroke or heart attack by up to 40 per cent.
Experts said the findings from Oxford University and published online by the British Medical Journal, were much more dramatic than had been expected and were extremely worrying.
The team analysed the results of 63 studies involving 49,220 healthy children aged between five and 15 years old.
The studies measured weight and one or more known cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
Body mass index is a calculation of weight divided by height squared, with a figure of between 25 and 30 classed as overweight and more than 30 as obese.
Dr Carl Heneghan, reader in evidence-based medicine at the University of Oxford and a co-author on the paper, said: “The relationship between obesity in children and cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure was much greater than we anticipated.
“The magnitude of the effect of obesity upon increasing cardiovascular risk in children is deeply worrying in terms of their future risks of heart disease.
“Obesity is one of today’s most visible, yet highly preventable health problems. The good news is these risk factors can readily be reversed with exercise, good diet, and maintaining a health a weight. Based on what we have found policymakers should make the epidemic of obesity in children as a priority for urgent public health action.”
Dr Matthew Thompson, reader in primary health care at the University of Oxford, said: “Being overweight as a child is more than just about appearance – many children’s hearts and blood vessels are already getting damaged when they are overweight or obese.
Source: British Medical Journal
Introducing activity for children at an early age, to help prevent these life threatening illnesses/diseases from occuring is of paramount.
Positive steps to help educate families on leading by example making the necessary changes to promote health, fitness and wellbeing for a lifetime is a total must.
Regular physical activity can help with a childs confidence, social interaction with other children and many other vital skills for life.
Improving fitness, heart and lung capacity, agility, strong and healthy bones and coordination are just a few benefits that a young child can recieve from increased activity on a weekly basis.
Regular activity for ‘early years’ together with healthy food choices made by parents are the key ingredient to a childs prolonged and happy future ahead.
Unfortunately parents just aren’t educated enough or have the means to become educated on the importance of healthy eating as well as physical activity. I agree with Kate, that it is so important for parents to lead by example. How are children going to know the importance and learn to enjoy sport and activity if their parents aren’t showing them these things. There are so many skills that are learnt from playing sport on top of the health benefits.
Parents need to be taught and children need to be cared for in a physical capacity.
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