A higher than normal body mass index (BMI) is known to lead to cardiovascular illnesses during adult life, but its effect has been little studied in young, apparently healthy adults. However, having a high BMI could lead to poor cardiovascular health in young people as young as 17, according to results of a study presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.
Cardiac hypertrophy and blood pressure from the age of 17
Researchers at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) at the University of Bristol, UK, used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to study the potential link between increased BMI and cardiovascular health. The scientists used “genetics” or genomic analysis of ALSPAC data to confirm this probable causal relationship, in volunteers aged 17 to 21.
The results of this study showed that obesity does not modify the heart rate in adulthood, but increases the risk of cardiac hypertrophy and arterial hypertension from the age of 17.
“Our results showed a causal impact between a BMI higher and cardiac hypertrophy and a arterial pressure higher,” says Dr Kaitlin Wade, research associate of the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit (MRC-IEU) at the University of Bristol and author of the study.
“We believe there are clear messages for cardiovascular health in our findings and hope they could lead to increased efforts to combat heart disease.obesity early in life,” concludes Dr. Wade.
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