Overweight and Obese Children Have Excess CV Risk

According to the CDC, rates of childhood obesity have more than tripled during the last 30 years. Investigators conducted a meta-analysis to examine associations between body-mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in children. More than 49,000 children (age range, 5–15 years) from 63 studies conducted in 23 highly developed nations were included. BMI categories were normal (17–25 kg/m²), overweight (>25–30), and obese (>30).

Systolic blood pressure (BP) was significantly higher in overweight children (by 4.5 mm Hg) and obese children (by 7.5 mm Hg) than in normal-weight children. Total cholesterol levels were significantly higher in obese children (by 5.8 mg/dL), but not in overweight children. HDL cholesterol levels were sign…