Family history of obesity and blood pressure high could increase the major risk in the development ofobesity severe in young children, according to results of a study published in the medical journal Front. Endocrinol.
Researchers at the University of Messina in Italy conducted a study with 260 obese or overweight children aged 2 to 17.
The study involved measurements of height and weight, blood samples to analyze blood sugar and lipid levels, as well as information on the history of obesity and various cardiovascular and metabolic diseases of parents, siblings. and even grandparents.
Family history, risk factors for obesity
Consistent with previous studies, researchers have shown that a family history of obesity increases the risk of childhood obesity.
If parents, siblings, and grandparents suffered from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, it increased the likelihood and severity of obesity in children. The researchers also found that children under the age of 8 were the most severely affected.
“Our research suggests a link between childhood obesity and a family history of obesity and cardiovascular illnesses and metabolic, especiallyhypertension, high levels of blood lipids, Type 2 diabetesand coronary heart disease, ”says Dr Domenico Corica at the University of Messina, Italy.
“We also show that the problem of childhood obesity is not just linked to an increase in the number of diagnoses, but also to the severity of obesity in young children. If this obesity persists over time, these Children have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. and metabolic complications in young adults. We have noticed in most severely obese children, even in the very young, insulin resistance. This is a finding very important which shows the need for an early intervention program on the part of the doctors, schools and institutions concerned, above all in order to modify the lifestyle of obese children and their families (eating habits, physical activity, time spent in front of screens) “.
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