Childhood Obesity and Cardiovascular Dysfunction
Obesity-related cardiovascular disease in children is becoming more prevalent in conjunction with the rise in childhood obesity. Children with obesity are predisposed to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Importantly, research in children with obesity over the last decade has demonstrated that children may exhibit early signs of cardiovascular dysfunction as a result of their excess adiposity, often independent of other obesity-related comorbidities such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. The clinical evidence is accumulating to suggest that the cardiovascular damage, once observed only in adults, is also occurring in obese children. The objective of this review is to provide a synopsis of the current research on cardiovascular abnormalities in children with obesity and highlight the importance and need for early detection and prevention programs to mitigate this potentially serious health problem.
Noncongenital cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be rare among children yet is becoming more prevalent in conjunction with the rise in childhood obesity. Obesity in children is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex. Recent estimates from 2007 to 2008 report that 16.9% of children are obese and 31.6% are overweight in the United States, a concern as many of these children will become obese adults with enhanced risk for CVD. In fact, in 2007 it was predicted that in the United States, the number of additional cardiovascular (CV) events attributable to excess weight in adolescence is expected to be >100,000 by 2035. Most disturbing, however, are the recent reports that childhood obesity is often accompanied by concurrent CV abnormalities, suggesting the problem is not only one of future or long-term CVD risk but rather, one requiring immediate attention to prevent progressive CV damage in childhood. The goal of this review is to describe the spectrum of CV abnormalities observed in children with obesity, with a specific focus on cardiac and vascular structure and function and autonomic function.
Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
Obesity-related cardiovascular disease in children is becoming more prevalent in conjunction with the rise in childhood obesity. Children with obesity are predisposed to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood. Importantly, research in children with obesity over the last decade has demonstrated that children may exhibit early signs of cardiovascular dysfunction as a result of their excess adiposity, often independent of other obesity-related comorbidities such as dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. The clinical evidence is accumulating to suggest that the cardiovascular damage, once observed only in adults, is also occurring in obese children. The objective of this review is to provide a synopsis of the current research on cardiovascular abnormalities in children with obesity and highlight the importance and need for early detection and prevention programs to mitigate this potentially serious health problem.
Introduction
Noncongenital cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be rare among children yet is becoming more prevalent in conjunction with the rise in childhood obesity. Obesity in children is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex. Recent estimates from 2007 to 2008 report that 16.9% of children are obese and 31.6% are overweight in the United States, a concern as many of these children will become obese adults with enhanced risk for CVD. In fact, in 2007 it was predicted that in the United States, the number of additional cardiovascular (CV) events attributable to excess weight in adolescence is expected to be >100,000 by 2035. Most disturbing, however, are the recent reports that childhood obesity is often accompanied by concurrent CV abnormalities, suggesting the problem is not only one of future or long-term CVD risk but rather, one requiring immediate attention to prevent progressive CV damage in childhood. The goal of this review is to describe the spectrum of CV abnormalities observed in children with obesity, with a specific focus on cardiac and vascular structure and function and autonomic function.