Obesity is present in all regions of the world in people of the most varied age groups, in addition to being the main factor associated with young people dying from COVID-19. When it comes to children and adolescents, the problems caused by this disease can be even worse, such as cardiovascular risk, type 2 diabetes, skeletal malformation and many others.
According to a study carried out in 2016, around 124 million young people aged 5 to 19 around the world are obese, which is not only a concern for the WHO and its related bodies, but also for the medical community, family members and health professionals from all over the planet.
More than an aesthetic problem, obesity in childhood and adolescence can cause chronic physical health problems, psychological problems and obesity in adulthood.
Today, we will talk about the cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents caused by obesity. Understand more!
The increase in obesity in children and adolescents
According to studies, the number of obese children and adolescents is 14.1% in Brazil, which also increases the percentage of people at cardiovascular risk.
It is nothing new that obesity is growing around the world, but scholars and health experts are constantly studying this comorbidity to understand the reasons for this considerable increase.
Modern habits of staying indoors more, doing less physical exercise, eating ultra-processed products, not having a balanced diet and eating a high amount of fat are the main culprits for the growth of childhood obesity.
Professionals go further and believe that the high price of natural and healthy foods also does not encourage families to invest in this type of food, since fast foods, for example, are more affordable and come ready to eat.
What is the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular risk?
Obesity is linked to a major cardiovascular risk, as excess fat circulating in the body can damage the heart, increasing blood pressure and causing destructive impacts on various systems.
Discover 3 diseases that pose a cardiovascular risk to children and adolescents:
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is not in first place for nothing: this problem is one of the most common in obese people of all ages and it would be no different for younger people.
This disease is characterized by the accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries, which, in turn, hinders the natural passage of blood.
Generally, it is in childhood that these plaques begin to accumulate, presenting serious symptoms in adulthood, such as blocked veins, which can cause a heart attack.
Metabolic syndrome
The negative changes in metabolism that obesity causes in people’s bodies is called metabolic syndrome, which even has a 24% to 51% prevalence in North American children and adolescents.
Among the most common metabolic diseases caused by obesity is type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides.
Coronary heart disease
The large accumulation of fat in the coronary arteries causes this part of the body to be compromised, that is, coronary disease can be a worsening of atherosclerosis.
It usually has no symptoms, but it can cause heart attacks and severe chest pain.
The importance of periodic exams to reduce cardiovascular risk
In addition to adopting new lifestyle habits, it is extremely important that patients undergo periodic exams to reduce cardiovascular risk and monitor this disease.
To achieve this, it is important to have quality medical equipment, such as the Quoretech wireless ECG monitor, a symbol of the latest in cardiac arrhythmia diagnoses. Understand more about this equipment and learn about its effectiveness.
