World Heart Day warning on childhood obesity

Childhood obesity and poor diet mean youngsters are developing early signs of heart disease even before they leave school, experts are warning.

Evidence is growing that the problem is not confined to the “fast food and soda” generation of western countries, but is emerging in the developing world too.

Speaking on the eve of World Heart Day on September 26th, which focuses on children, adolescents and heart disease, Prof Philip James, chair of the International Obesity TaskForce, said that global strategies for the prevention of obesity and associated chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, should be made an urgent priority by every government.

“Ministers of health from 191 countries agreed to adopt the WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health during the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May. We are witnessing a public health tragedy unfolding with more and more children affected. Ministers must act now to involve all sections of government and society to work together to tackle this crisis,” added Prof James, senior vice president for policy and public health of the International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Recent studies in the USA have highlighted the impact of the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of health risks associated with abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, raised blood pressure and triglyceride levels and other cardiovascular risk factors. An estimated 910,000 teenagers – or 4.2 per cent of all youngsters aged 12-19 – were calculated to be affected by the metabolic syndrome, based on government surveys conducted 10 years ago.[1]

Research conducted by a team from Yale University found that each half-unit increase in the body-mass index was associated with an increase in the risk of the metabolic syndrome among overweight and obese subjects.[2]

A report prepared for WHO by the IOTF’s childhood obesity working group warns that cardiovascular risk factors are now becoming “routinely reported” among children in many populations. In developing countries, low birthweight and subsequent rapid weight gain predisposed many people to greater risks of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.[3]

In Hong Kong a study of overweight but apparently healthy Chinese children revealed early warning signs. Researchers concluded: “Obesity, even of mild-to-moderate degree, is independently associated with abnormal arterial function and structure in otherwise healthy young children.”[4]

Supporting the World Heart Day call from Professor Poole-Wilson, president of the World Heart Federation, for governments to adopt and implement policies to reduce the risk factors for heart disease and stroke, Prof James said that neglecting prevention was to neglect the present and future health of the generation who will have to carry the huge burden of health costs due to the epidemic of obesity and chronic diseases now affecting all age groups.

For further information contact:

Neville Rigby, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, IASO International Obesity TaskForce.
Tel (mobile) +44 7939250347

See also World Heart Federation press release: http://www.worldheart.org/pdf/press.releases.whd04.warning.pdf

References
[1] Cook S, Weitzman M, Auinger P, Nguyen M, Dietz WH. Prevalence of a metabolic syndrome phenotype in adolescents: findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003 Aug;157(8):821-7.

[2] Weiss R, Dziura J, Burgert TS, Tamborlane WV, Taksali SE, Yeckel CW, Allen K, Lopes M, Savoye M, Morrison J, Sherwin RS, Caprio S. Obesity and the metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents. N Engl J Med. 2004 Jun 3;350(23):2362-74.

[3] T. Lobstein, L. Baur and R. Uauy for the IASO International Obesity TaskForce Obesity in children and young people: a crisis in public health, obesity reviews (2004) 5 (Suppl. 1), 4–85

[4] Woo KS, Chook P, Yu CW, Sung RY, Qiao M, Leung SS, Lam CW, Metreweli C, Celermajer DS.Overweight in children is associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickening.Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004 Jul;28(7):852-7