In a thought-provoking new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, it was stated that irrespective of their adult weight, boys who had been overweight in their teens fell into the higher risk group for heart disease later in life. This study analyzed data from the medical records of more than 37,000 Israeli soldiers. These soldiers had been drafted by the age of 17 and their records covered their BMI, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and weight changes over the next 17 years. By the end of the study, when most of the participants of the study were in their mid-30s, it was noticed that those men who had been obese or even overweight as teenagers, had a significantly higher rate of heart disease as compared to those who had joined the military with normal BMI scores. Other factors such as physical exercise, smoking and drinking, and a family history of heart disease were controlled so as to isolate and study the effects of teenage BMI on cardiovascular health.
While current adult weight as compared to teenage weight and BMI scores made a difference to the risk of diabetes in these participants, teenage obesity seemed to be inherently linked to the chances of developing heart disease. This could be attributed to the fact that the narrowing of the arteries – a condition that is characteristic of heart problems – is connected with obesity, an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. Even with subsequent weight loss, the process of hardening of the arteries is very difficult to reverse. Though the results of this study may not apply directly to women or to civilians, the researchers insist that the findings are comparable and are indicative of health problems faced by similarly aged men in other countries as well.
For further proof that obesity in teens is linked to cardiovascular disease, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted a survey where more than 2,000 teens in the US answered a number of questions related to their diet, eating habits, weight, height, and waist measurements. On the basis of the information collected it was discovered that teens who consume larger quantities of sugar have higher levels of bad cholesterol and lower levels of good cholesterol as compared to those teens who eat a healthier diet. Since an imbalance of cholesterol levels is an early marker of heart disease, this indicates that there is a connection between the intake of sugar in overweight teens and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The survey also observed a direct correlation between BMI scores and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. As a teen’s weight increased, so did risk factors such as high blood sugar, hypertension, and high cholesterol. According to the CDC, results of this survey prove that obese adolescents may have risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure and thicker heart muscle walls.
While the results of these studies are enlightening, it is important to keep in mind that BMI scores (past or present) are not the only responsible factor for health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. Experts insist that other behavioral and lifestyle habits such as exercise and diet are the ones that need to be addressed immediately. Parents should be made aware of the risks of childhood and teenage obesity and encourage a healthier lifestyles in their children in order to reduce the rate of cardiovascular disease in the country today.
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