He isn't the only one who sees signs of trouble. A 1999 study of weight and heart health found that one in four children between the ages of five and ten has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or some other risk factor for developing heart disease later in life. Among the overweight children in the study, more than half had at least one heart disease risk factor. Compared with kids at a healthy weight, overweight children were more than three times as likely to have elevated cholesterol and more than twice as likely to have high blood pressure. The researchers who conducted the study concluded that curbing overweight and obesity in kids could help them avoid problems like heart attack and stroke down the road.
What can you do to steer an overweight child clear of heart problems? For starters, pay a visit to your family doctor, who will check cholesterol and blood pressure levels to evaluate your child's risk. If it's been a while since his or her last checkup, schedule an appointment today!