Extra Body Fat Harms Blood Vessels in Teens

Wednesday, September 21, 2005

By Salynn Boyles




Even teenagers who aren’t overweight can show signs of cardiovascular damage if they carry excess body fat.

As early as age 13 teens showed evidence of reduced blood vessel elasticity — an early warning sign of heart and vascular disease in adults. Higher amounts of body fat were associated with lower elasticity.

The teens who weighed the most appeared to have the greatest risk. But even those who were not considered obese or even overweight showed evidence of reduced blood vessel function.

Pediatric cardiologist Stephen Daniels, MD, says the study offers some of the best evidence yet that carrying excess body fat early in life can lead to the blood vessel damage that is a major cause of heart attack and stroke.

Daniels is a professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and a spokesman for the American Heart Association.

“These findings are less of a surprise than a confirmation that this process begins early,” he tells WebMD.


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