Childhood Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease: Links and Prevention Strategies

Overview

Journal Nat Rev Cardiol

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2011 Jun 15

PMID 21670745

Citations 83

Authors

Kristen J Nadeau

David M Maahs

Stephen R Daniels

Robert H Eckel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The prevalence and severity of pediatric obesity have dramatically increased since the late 1980s, raising concerns about a subsequent increase in cardiovascular outcomes. Strong evidence, particularly from autopsy studies, supports the concept that precursors of adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin in childhood, and that pediatric obesity has an important influence on overall CVD risk. Lifestyle patterns also begin early and impact CVD risk. In addition, obesity and other CVD risk factors tend to persist over time. However, whether childhood obesity causes adult CVD directly, or does so by persisting as adult obesity, or both, is less clear. Regardless, sufficient data exist to warrant early implementation of both obesity prevention and treatment in youth and adults. In this Review, we examine the evidence supporting the impact of childhood obesity on adult obesity, surrogate markers of CVD, components of the metabolic syndrome, and the development of CVD. We also evaluate how obesity treatment strategies can improve risk factors and, ultimately, adverse clinical outcomes.

Citing Articles

Metabolic syndrome index measurement tool (MSI): scale development, reliability and validity study.

Akeren Z, Apaydin E BMC Public Health. 2025; 25(1):51.

PMID: 39762795 PMC: 11705882. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-21304-7.

Male Wistar Rats Chronically Fed with a High-Fat Diet Develop Inflammatory and Ionic Transport Angiotensin-(3-4)-Sensitive Myocardial Lesions but Preserve Echocardiographic Parameters.

Crisostomo T, Luzes R, Goncalves M, Pardal M, Muzi-Filho H, Costa-Sarmento G Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(22).

PMID: 39596537 PMC: 11594684. DOI: 10.3390/ijms252212474.

The association of telomere length with body mass index and immunological factors differs according to physical activity practice among children and adolescents.

Felix N, Tornquist L, Paula Sehn A, Davila H, Todendi P, de Moura Valim A BMC Pediatr. 2024; 24(1):633.

PMID: 39367328 PMC: 11451119. DOI: 10.1186/s12887-024-05111-4.

What is the disease burden from childhood and adolescent obesity?: a narrative review.

Lee E J Yeungnam Med Sci. 2024; 41(3):150-157.

PMID: 38932702 PMC: 11294796. DOI: 10.12701/jyms.2024.00360.

The Impact of Behavior Change Counseling Delivered via a Digital Health Tool Versus Routine Care Among Adolescents With Obesity: Pilot Randomized Feasibility Study.

Kepper M, Walsh-Bailey C, Miller Z, Zhao M, Zucker K, Gacad A JMIR Form Res. 2024; 8:e55731.

PMID: 38758581 PMC: 11143394. DOI: 10.2196/55731.

References

Cook D, Mendall M, Whincup P, Carey I, Ballam L, Morris J . C-reactive protein concentration in children: relationship to adiposity and other cardiovascular risk factors. Atherosclerosis. 2000; 149(1):139-50. DOI: 10.1016/s0021-9150(99)00312-3. View

Freedman D, Khan L, Dietz W, Srinivasan S, Berenson G . Relationship of childhood obesity to coronary heart disease risk factors in adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics. 2001; 108(3):712-8. DOI: 10.1542/peds.108.3.712. View

Morrison J, Friedman L, Gray-McGuire C . Metabolic syndrome in childhood predicts adult cardiovascular disease 25 years later: the Princeton Lipid Research Clinics Follow-up Study. Pediatrics. 2007; 120(2):340-5. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-1699. View

Schubert C, Sun S, Burns T, Morrison J, Huang T . Predictive ability of childhood metabolic components for adult metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. J Pediatr. 2009; 155(3):S6.e1-7. PMC: 3777811. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2009.04.048. View

Magnussen C, Raitakari O, Thomson R, Juonala M, Patel D, Viikari J . Utility of currently recommended pediatric dyslipidemia classifications in predicting dyslipidemia in adulthood: evidence from the Childhood Determinants of Adult Health (CDAH) study, Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study, and Bogalusa Heart Study. Circulation. 2007; 117(1):32-42. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.718981. View

Vasan R . Biomarkers of cardiovascular disease: molecular basis and practical considerations. Circulation. 2006; 113(19):2335-62. DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.482570. View

Reinehr T, de Sousa G, Toschke A, Andler W . Long-term follow-up of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children after an obesity intervention. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006; 84(3):490-6. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/84.3.490. View

Goalstone M, Natarajan R, Standley P, Walsh M, Leitner J, Carel K . Insulin potentiates platelet-derived growth factor action in vascular smooth muscle cells. Endocrinology. 1998; 139(10):4067-72. DOI: 10.1210/endo.139.10.6270. View

Tirosh A, Shai I, Afek A, Dubnov-Raz G, Ayalon N, Gordon B . Adolescent BMI trajectory and risk of diabetes versus coronary disease. N Engl J Med. 2011; 364(14):1315-25. PMC: 4939259. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1006992. View

10.

Clarke W, Schrott H, Leaverton P, Connor W, Lauer R . Tracking of blood lipids and blood pressures in school age children: the Muscatine study. Circulation. 1978; 58(4):626-34. DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.58.4.626. View

11.

Davis P, Dawson J, RILEY W, Lauer R . Carotid intimal-medial thickness is related to cardiovascular risk factors measured from childhood through middle age: The Muscatine Study. Circulation. 2001; 104(23):2815-9. DOI: 10.1161/hc4601.099486. View

12.

Magnussen C, Venn A, Thomson R, Juonala M, Srinivasan S, Viikari J . The association of pediatric low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol dyslipidemia classifications and change in dyslipidemia status with carotid intima-media thickness in adulthood evidence from the cardiovascular risk in Young Finns study,.... J Am Coll Cardiol. 2009; 53(10):860-9. PMC: 2759186. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2008.09.061. View

13.

Must A, Naumova E, Phillips S, Blum M, Dawson-Hughes B, Rand W . Childhood overweight and maturational timing in the development of adult overweight and fatness: the Newton Girls Study and its follow-up. Pediatrics. 2005; 116(3):620-7. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2004-1604. View

14.

Eriksson J, Forsen T, Tuomilehto J, Osmond C, Barker D . Early adiposity rebound in childhood and risk of Type 2 diabetes in adult life. Diabetologia. 2003; 46(2):190-4. DOI: 10.1007/s00125-002-1012-5. View

15.

Freedman D, Patel D, Srinivasan S, Chen W, Tang R, Bond M . The contribution of childhood obesity to adult carotid intima-media thickness: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Int J Obes (Lond). 2008; 32(5):749-56. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803798. View

16.

Raitakari O, Porkka K, Ronnemaa T, Knip M, Uhari M, Akerblom H . The role of insulin in clustering of serum lipids and blood pressure in children and adolescents. The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Diabetologia. 1995; 38(9):1042-50. DOI: 10.1007/BF00402173. View

17.

Freedman D, Dietz W, Srinivasan S, Berenson G . Risk factors and adult body mass index among overweight children: the Bogalusa Heart Study. Pediatrics. 2009; 123(3):750-7. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2008-1284. View

18.

McGill Jr H, McMahan C, Herderick E, Zieske A, Malcom G, Tracy R . Obesity accelerates the progression of coronary atherosclerosis in young men. Circulation. 2002; 105(23):2712-8. DOI: 10.1161/01.cir.0000018121.67607.ce. View

19.

Whitlock E, OConnor E, Williams S, Beil T, Lutz K . Effectiveness of weight management interventions in children: a targeted systematic review for the USPSTF. Pediatrics. 2010; 125(2):e396-418. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2009-1955. View

20.

Targher G, Bertolini L, Poli F, Rodella S, Scala L, Tessari R . Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and risk of future cardiovascular events among type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes. 2005; 54(12):3541-6. DOI: 10.2337/diabetes.54.12.3541. View