Washington, March 03: Warning signs of possible future heart disease can be found in obese children as young as three years old, a new study found.
According to the study published in Pediatrics, most obese children and teenagers have high blood levels of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP).
Inflammation in artery walls is responsible for the damage seen in heart disease; high levels of blood CRP, therefore, can predict future heart attacks, the study found.
High levels of the two other inflammatory markers known as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and ferritin/transferrin saturation were also reported in obese children aged as old as 6 and 9, respectively.
“We’re seeing a relationship between weight status and elevated inflammatory markers much earlier than we expected,” said lead researcher Asheley Cockrell Skinner, stressing that the study was not able to determine whether the inflammation or the obesity came first.
Scientists, therefore, urged parents to ensure their children maintain a healthy weight from early ages and to follow healthy lifestyles all through their life.
——Agencies