As more studies are focusing on childhood health, obesity in kids can be a risk factor to consider especially in cases of heart attacks and strokes at an early age. Earlier notion that heart problems begin in early 20’s, think gain. Two studies have been made available pointing fingers to the potential risks of childhood obesity worldwide.

One study examined the fate of 250,000 obese children since 1930 until they reached adult life. The other research looked into the trend using the digital crystal ball of computer modeling to determine the number of deaths caused by heart diseases. It said its increase rate is alarming with 19 percent of obese individuals who are 35 years old up are dying early.

Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo of the University of California-San Francisco said, the age and the magnitude are striking as more early obese deaths are posted based on the studies. The results appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Doctors said the recent findings provided a greater caution of letting go excess weight even for children as it may be a long-term risk of heart diseases and as a way to lengthen their lifespan toward adult life. Although other studies contested such findings, Dr. David Ludwig of Children’s Hospital in Boston said such conflicting findings may be irrelevant when the early signs of heart problems are seen in obese children.

Two years ago, he already shared his studies on obesity taking away two to five years of the normal person’s lifespan caused by heart ailments and other risk factors for having too much weight.

Although there are better treatments present in the market, according to Lee Goldman of Columbia University, still the complexities of diseases such as heart problems, kidney problems and diabetes are at hand. The old-time adage, ‘prevention is better than cure,’ remains as a powerful reminder in the fight against diseases and healthy lifestyle. Kids with excess weight should be guided in their food intake. They need to be taught on how to keep their bodies healthy.

USA Today