(18-12-07) Two New Studies Confirm Childhood Obesity Dangers

Two studies released today further confirm that childhood obesity is spiraling out of control and puts millions of children throughout the world at risk for premature heart attacks and strokes. One study examined how excess weight affected the fate of more than 250,000 young people who were examined in 1930 and followed through adulthood. The second study involved computer modeling that predicts a dramatic increase in heart disease deaths caused by child obesity.
Taken together, doctors say, the studies provide new evidence that excess weight does affect a child?s long-term risk of heart disease and can lower life expectancy. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results. "The full effects of childhood obesity have yet to be understood," said Dr. David Ludwig of Children?s Hospital in Boston, who published a controversial study two years ago suggesting that obesity could two to five years off the average child?s life span.
"It?s the age and the magnitude that is so striking to us," reported Dr. Kirsten Bibbons-Domingo in The New England Journal of Medicine. "This is a problem that requires sweeping policy changes at all levels to make sure our children have access to healthy foods and physical activity. "
Children who are raised in families with obese parents are more likely to be overweight. If one parent is overweight, their teenage child has an 80% change of being overweight, (probably a combination of genetics and family behaviors).

Source: Med Headlines , Friday, 7 December, 2007 22:43 (CST)

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