Today’s youth is growing up way too quickly… and I’m not just talking about all the sex and violence they are exposed to. They’re also showing signs of premature aging with regards to their health. The health conditions they are experiencing are normally associated with people in middle age.
A new study examined the neck arteries of some obese and diabetic youngsters and found that their carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain, showed thickening and stiffness known to increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. The findings reinforces earlier research indicating obese children have adult health problems.
Researchers looked at the thickness of the kids’ intima, a layer of tissue that lines the arteries.
“If you have diabetes, the intima is thicker than if you don’t have diabetes,” says Dr. Elaine Urbina, director of preventive cardiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the report.
The kids in the study also were at a high risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as higher blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol.
(via: MSN Health)