Can Childhood Obesity Trigger Future Health Problems?

from  www.medicaldaily.com

The childhood obesity epidemic is increasingly choking the life out of so many children, and as a result putting them at risk for developing other severe diseases and disorders. High blood pressure and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are two prevalent health problems putting children at risk for premature cardiovascular disease. In the last 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents, solidifying its place as one of the most dangerous health epidemics to face America.

“Along with being at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, we found that children with NAFLD who had high blood pressure were significantly more likely to have more fat in their liver than children without high blood pressure,” the study’s lead author Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer, in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine, said in a press release. “This could lead to a more serious form of liver disease.”

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from medicalxpress.com

NAFLD – the inappropriate storage of fat droplets inside liver cells – is the most common cause of chronic liver disease in the United States and affects nearly 10 percent of all children. Although children with chronic liver disease often have no symptoms, some children with NAFLD will have fatigue and/or abdominal pain. The initial evaluation for NAFLD is via a blood test and diagnosis is ultimately based upon a liver biopsy. The disease is most common in children and teenagers who are overweight and can develop in conjunction with other health problems, such as diabetes.

The study, conducted by the National Institutes of Health Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network, enrolled 484 children with NAFLD between two-and-17-years-old. The participants’ blood pressure was assessed at enrollment and at 48 weeks. Nearly 36 percent of the group had high blood pressure at baseline; 21 percent had persistent high blood pressure almost a year later. In comparison, high blood pressure was present in two to five percent of all children and 10 percent of obese children.

“Along with being at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, we found that children with NAFLD who had high blood pressure were significantly more likely to have more fat in their liver than children without high blood pressure. This could lead to a more serious form of liver disease,” said Schwimmer.

Researchers also found that compared to boys, girls with NAFLD were significantly more likely to have persistent high blood pressure.

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from www.medicalnewstoday.com

Although there are no currently approved treatments for children with NAFLD, there are treatments for high blood pressure. Dr. Schwimmer argues that blood pressure control may be useful for decreasing the risk of premature cardiovascular disease in children.

 “Parents and doctors need to be aware of the health risks of children who have NAFLD,” he says. “The sooner high blood pressure is identified and treated in this patient population, the healthier they will be as they transition into adulthood.”

Recently, Medical News Today reported on a study published in JAMA Pediatrics that suggested a link between antibiotic exposure and childhood obesity.

We also looked at a study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood that examined the link between reduced sleep in children and increased risk of obesity. And in July, we ran a spotlight feature that asked whether the childhood obesity epidemic is being taken seriously.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285984.php

photo credit Google Images

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