Heart Disease Risk Increases for Obese Toddlers

Results of a new study show that obese children as young as three can show early signs of heart disease.

Being overweight or obese as a child can pose numerous health problems, but never before has a study been able to identify these problems in children so young.

Researchers analyzed health data on more than 16000 children and teens to reach their study finding, and identified a biological marker known as C-reactive protein that plays a contributing role.

Three to five year olds who were obese had increased levels of this biomarker in their blood, at much higher levels than those children of a healthy bodyweight.

CRP is found in our blood, and high levels indicate inflammation in the body.

When talking heart disease, the cause of this condition is linked to inflammation of the walls of the arteries which in turn puts more strain on the heart to pump blood throughout the body.

Study author, Dr Eliana Perrin says: “This study tells us that very young, obese children already have more inflammation than children who are not obese, and that’s very concerning.”

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