Childhood obesity linked to adult diseases

AURORA, Colo., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Increasing obesity in children will lead to higher obesity rates in the adult population and a greater diabetes and heart disease burden, U.S. researchers say.

Drs. Megan Moriarty-Kelsey and Stephen Daniels of the University of Colorado School of Medicine say obese children may already exhibit early signs of hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels and insulin resistance.

The comprehensive review, published in the journal Childhood Obesity, says there is mounting evidence linking childhood obesity increases to the risk of adult obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

Moriarty-Kelsey and Daniels stress the importance of prevention and early intervention for childhood obesity not only to minimize risk of future disease, but to prevent the occurrence of disorders once thought of as conditions of adulthood that have become increasingly common in children, such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease.