Children’s Poor Diet Linked to Heart Disease

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Obese Children’s Poor Diet Linked to Heart Disease

Kid's Doctor

Posted on March 28, 2011 at 11:01 AM

Updated Monday, Mar 28 at 11:01 AM

Obese children may not only experience the heartbreak of teasing, but also heart

disease according to a new study.

A child is obese if their weight is more than twenty-percent higher than the

ideal weight for a boy or girl of their age and height. The added pounds and

body fat could be adding an assortment of health problems such as insulin

resistance, inflammation, and a metabolic system that doesn’t work correctly.

“The metabolic abnormalities suggest that the process of developing heart

disease has already started in these children, making it critical for them to

make definitive lifestyle and diet changes,” said study senior author Dr.

Ashutosh Lal, a pediatric hematologist at the Children’s Hospital and Research

Center Oakland in California, in a news release provided by the American Heart

Association.

Researchers compared the diets of 33 obese children and young adults, ages

11-19, with 19 people in the same age group who were of normal weight. They also

examined blood test results. Two-thirds of the participants in each group were

female, and both groups were racially diverse. All the participants received

health care at a clinic in Oakland.

After reviewing the results, researchers noticed that the older teens showed

signs of inflammation, insulin resistance – which can lead to diabetes- and

oxidative stress, which can lead to blood vessel damage. Any one of these

conditions could be a pre-curser to heart disease. If a child has all three, it

becomes a very worrisome prospect for the child’s future health.

Even though the obese teens in the study were beginning to develop heart

disease, physically they felt fine.

“Looking at the numbers you would think these children might feel sick, but they

did not,” Lal said. “They are apparently feeling well, but there is a lot going

on beneath the surface.”

The study group discovered that teens in both groups weren’t getting proper

nutrition. Their diets were lacking in fruits and vegetables, and the obese

teen’s diets were particularly low in dairy and had even lower servings of

fruit.

Potassium and vitamins A,C, and D – which could have been improved by drinking

fortified milk and dairy products and eating dark vegetables and fruits- were

found to be below daily requirements in the diets of the obese children.

“Obese teens were consuming too few of the natural sources of antioxidants,

fruits and vegetables, and may have increased antioxidant needs based on the

inflammation associated with their extra weight,” Lal said. “For their heart

health, obese teens need to eat better, not just eat less.”

The findings are scheduled to be released this week at the American Heart

Association scientific sessions, held in Atlanta.

Experts note that research presented at meetings has not been subjected to the

same type of rigorous scrutiny given to research published in peer-reviewed

medical journals.

To help improve your child’s nutritional intake – try these tips:

- Cook more meals at home. Caregivers are able to provide healthier foods by

cooking at home. Restaurants tend to have more sugar and salt in the food that

is served. Make sure that each meal provides lean protein, complex

carbohydrates, and fiber.

- Provide fresh fruit for snacks. Fruit, especially dark fruit, provides

antioxidants that can lower inflammation, and satisfy a craving for something

sweet.

- Eat your meals at a regular time. Knowing that a meal is served at a

particular time and location offers families a place to share time together,

ideas and bonding.

- Make sure meals have plenty of variety. Keep fruits, vegetables, whole grains

and beverages like milk, water, and pure fruit juice always available. These

foods and drinks offer healthy food choices instead of empty calories that can

add unwanted pounds.

- Make sure that portions are reasonable, and never offer food as a reward or

bribe to get your child to do something.

As the adult in the household, remember to set a good example and encourage your

child to experiment with healthy food choices. Their hearts will be glad you

did!