Childhood obesity and CVD risks: Here's how to prevent it

According to Cleveland Clinic research, overweight children who follow a healthy eating pattern significantly improve their weight and reduce a variety of cardiovascular disease risks. The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Pediatrics.

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As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity affects 1 in 5 children and adolescents. Children who are obese are more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

For the study, researchers studied the eating patterns of 96 children between the ages of 9 and 18 for one year. The three healthy eating patterns studied were the American Heart Association Diet, Mediterranean Diet and Plant-based diet. All three diets were associated with improvements in weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein.

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The study shows the importance of starting eating healthy as young as possible. As per researchers, the process of heart disease begins in childhood so prevention should begin from there as well.