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Inactive youths may risk cardiovascular complications

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Cholesterol testing shows that even children as young as 9 years old can be at risk for cardiovascular complications, according to a new study from a group of European researchers.

The key factor is whether or not the child is physically active, the study showed. The study found that inactive children show several signs of impending cardiovascular disease, and the researchers said that this shouldn't be that surprising.

"It is well known that physical inactivity in adults is associated with a wide range of diseases and all causes of death" said Dr Tina Tanha, of the Department of Clinical Sciences at Skane University Hospital in Malmo, Sweden, and lead author of the study.

She added that the findings show a clear association between physical inactivity and heart disease risk in children, and they point to a need to get young people moving more. Studies have shown that once a person develops a particular risk factor for cardiovascular complications they are unlikely to lose it. When these risks are accumulated in childhood, the likelihood of a problem is elevated.

The findings may also help explain the rising rate of obesity in young people, as fewer children are spending their time outside playing. Instead, many youths opt for time spent in front of the TV and on video game