DOC News January 1, 2008
Volume 5 Number 1 p. 7
© 2008 American Diabetes Association
Heart Disease Risk Starts Early in Childhood
Bridget Murray Law
After losing their baby fat, all young children hit a body mass index (BMI)
nadir—a lean period—before steadily packing on pounds into
adulthood. The earlier they hit that nadir, known as the BMI rebound, the more
likely they are to show heart disease risk while still children, according to
findings reported by cardiologist Thomas R. Kimball, MD, and colleagues at the
American Heart Association's 2007 Scientific Sessions, held November 4–7
in Orlando, Fla.
In the study, the earliest BMI rebounders showed heart disease risk factors
at the young age of 7.
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Kimball's Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center team tracked the
height and weight of 308 children for 4 years, starting at age 3. At age 7,
the children underwent echocardiograms and other medical testing to determine
cardiovascular health.
Findings revealed that children with the latest rebound ages, 
5.5
years, were healthiest, while those with the earliest rebound ages, 
4.5
years, were least healthy. The early rebounders showed the following
cardiovascular warning signs:
- Greater left ventricular mass and left atrial size, suggesting strain on
the heart;
- Higher blood pressure; and
- Higher serum leptin and insulin levels, suggesting increased diabetes
risk.
In the highest-risk group, girls hit BMI rebound before boys did (4.2 years
vs. 4.4 years), "suggesting girls may need our help more than
boys," says Kimball.
More generally, the findings indicate that parents and physicians should
increase BMI monitoring of children, he says.
"Doctors need to measure BMI regularly and educate parents about
it," he says. "If a child's BMI is high, they should have less TV
and more exercise and outdoor play. Childhood obesity today means a heart
disease epidemic in the future."
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