According to a study at the University of North Carolina U.S., children as young as three years presented specific markers that would predict cardiovascular disease in adulthood. These findings are very important to try to raise awareness about the relationship between childhood obesity and the onset of heart disease when they become adults.

Children aged three years who have presented early obesity high levels of C-reactive protein, a marker that determines inflammation. This marker in adults is an indicator of possible heart disease. Hence the importance of the results obtained in research conducted at the University of North Carolina in the U.S..

Study sample

* Data was performed on 16 335 children of age group between 1-17 years. They are classified into four groups according to Body Mass Index (BMI): Healthy weight, overweight, obese and very obese.

Results

* Of the nearly 70% were at a healthy weight, 15% were overweight, 11% were obese and 3.5% were very obese.
* Among the severely obese children aged 3-5 years, over 40% had elevated C-reactive protein compared with 17 percent of children with healthy weight.
* In adolescents aged 15-17 years, 83% of very obese patients had elevated serum C-reactive protein, compared with 18% of those with a healthy weight.

Conclusion

* The weight and inflammatory markers are closely related, even in infants up to three years.
* In view of these data is essential to emphasize the importance of controlling childhood obesity, even at very early ages, due to the complications that these children may suffer when they become adults.

It is important to set guidelines and healthy diet to help control and reduce the incidence of childhood obesity, without neglecting the essential nutrients for good development, both physical, intellectual and emotional.