Obesity in Young Adulthood may lead to Earlier Disease and Death

The number of children who are obese or overweight is growing at an alarming rate. Extra pounds put kids at risk of serious health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and asthma. Childhood obesity also takes an emotional toll. Overweight children are frequently teased and excluded from team activities, which can lead to low self-esteem, negative body image, and depression. A recently published 33-year, long-term study led by Henrik Toft Sorensen, a professor at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark, looked at the health of 6,502 Danish men from age 22 until age 55.

The results are quite sobering!

By the end of the 33-year follow-up period, nearly half of the men who were obese at age 22 had been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure, suffered a heart attack, stroke or blood clots in the legs or lungs, or had died.

Compared to those of normal weight, obese young men were eight times more likely to develop diabetes, four times more likely to have a potentially fatal blood clot, and more than twice as likely to develop high blood pressure, have had a heart attack or to have died.

For every unit increase in body mass index (BMI) above the normal range, there was a 5 present increased risk of heart attack, a 10 present increased risk of high blood pressure and blood clots, and a 20 present increased risk of diabetes.

The study conclusion was an association between obesity in young men and a greater risk of serious health problems or death by age 55. However,  the study did not prove causation but only correlation.

So beware parents healthy habits start at home. The best way to fight or prevent childhood obesity and weight problems is to get the whole family on a healthier track. Making better food choices and becoming more active will benefit everyone, regardless of weight. And with the whole family involved, it will be much easier for your overweight child to make lasting changes.