Inactivity in Childhood Linked to Risk for Teen Heart Disease
By Jane St. Clair
A new study published in this month's issue of Dynamic Medicine is the first to find that inactive children can develop heart disease in their teenage years.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill performed medical tests on 400 children ages 7 to 10, and then again seven years later. Children who reported low levels of physical activity were six times more likely to develop metabolic syndrome as teenagers.
Metabolic syndrome is a group of disorders including hypertension, elevated triglycerides, low "good" cholesterol, and obesity that raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
"This study shows efforts need to begin in early children to increase exercise," said Dr. Robert McMurray. "Children today live a very sedentary life and are prone to obesity."
Comments
Wow! That's scary - what's going to happen when these kids turn into adults? If they're prone to being couch potatoes as kids I doubt they'll become super active grown ups.
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