In a finding that confirms what many suspect, a new study shows that teenagers who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes or have a heart attack in their 30s and 40s.
These teenagers are also more likely to have other health problems, whether or not they lose excess weight in adulthood.
“Puberty is an important time to prevent diabetes and heart attacks in the future,” said study author Dr. Jason Nagata, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Adolescent and Adolescent Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.
Exactly how adolescent weight will affect your future health is not fully understood, but risk factors that appear at a younger age – such as hardening of the arteries or insulin resistance – are difficult to completely reverse.
For the new study, the researchers analyzed data from 12,300 adolescents who were followed for 24 years as part of the US National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Investigators tracked the body mass index, or BMI, z-scores.
BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, and the Z-Score puts it into perspective based on a child’s age and gender.
Compared to teenagers with lower BMI-z scores, teenagers with higher scores had an almost 9% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 0.8% higher risk of heart attacks in their 30s and 40s and a 2.6% higher risk of overall poorer health, regardless of an adult’s BMI.
The researchers also controlled other factors known to affect health outcomes, such as race / ethnicity, tobacco and alcohol use.
“Parents should encourage teenagers to develop healthy behaviors, such as regular physical activity and balanced meals,” said Nagata. Doctors should also consider a history of BMI in their assessments, he added.
The results were published online this week in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
The message is clear: “We have to act sooner,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness for National Jewish Health in Denver. He is also the co-chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Nutrition & Lifestyle Workgroup.
“What you eat early in life has an impact on what happens to you later,” said Freeman, who was not involved in the new research. “Instead of paying lip service, we have to say, ‘Here’s what to do and how to do it.'”
Healthy lifestyle changes can help stop some of these risks. “Eat a low-fat, whole-food, plant-based diet, as every study ever done shows that this type of eating reduces disease and helps people maintain or lose weight,” Freeman said. Daily exercise is also an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
Parents should encourage healthy habits, such as taking family walks together and cooking and shopping for healthy groceries together, added Dr. Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington, DC
“As children gain weight, take smart and supportive steps to minimize weight gain and promote healthier lifestyles,” said Kahan, who was not involved in the new study.
You are not powerless, he said. Losing weight – even a little – will improve your health. “You can undo some damage that has been done, but you may not be able to completely undo it,” Kahan said.
More information
CardioSmart, the American College of Cardiology’s patient education division, offers additional advice on preventing obesity in children.
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source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/obesity-in-teens-raises-adult-diabetes-risk-even-after-weight-loss/
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