Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
09:36

Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study

Published on: February 2, 2017

Childhood adiposity, adult adiposity, and cardiovascular risk factors

Markus Juonala1, Costan G Magnussen, Gerald S Berenson

  • 1Research Center of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.

The New England Journal of Medicine
|November 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity significantly increases cardiovascular risks, including type 2 diabetes and hypertension, if it persists into adulthood. However, overweight children who achieve a normal body mass index (BMI) by adulthood show similar health risks to those who were never obese.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • The long-term cardiovascular risk for individuals who are overweight or obese in childhood but achieve a normal body mass index (BMI) in adulthood remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between childhood and adult body mass index (BMI) status and the risk of major cardiovascular outcomes.
  • To determine if maintaining a high adiposity status from childhood through adulthood exacerbates cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from four prospective cohort studies, including 6328 subjects with a mean follow-up of 23 years.
  • Utilized international age- and sex-specific BMI cutoffs for childhood overweight/obesity and a BMI of 30 for adult obesity.
  • Assessed risks for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and carotid-artery atherosclerosis.

Main Results:

  • Consistent high adiposity from childhood to adulthood significantly increased the risk of type 2 diabetes (RR 5.4), hypertension (RR 2.7), dyslipidemia (elevated LDL, reduced HDL, elevated triglycerides), and carotid-artery atherosclerosis (RR 1.7).
  • Individuals who were overweight or obese in childhood but achieved a normal BMI in adulthood had risks for these outcomes comparable to those who were never obese (P > 0.20).

Conclusions:

  • Sustained obesity from childhood into adulthood is linked to significantly elevated risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis.
  • Overweight or obese children who normalize their BMI by adulthood do not appear to carry an increased risk for these adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in adipocytes...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Type II Diabetes I: Introduction01:26

Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, in which target tissues such as the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue respond poorly to insulin. It is also associated with inadequate compensatory insulin secretion, where pancreatic β-cells fail to produce sufficient insulin. Together, these abnormalities lead to persistent hyperglycemia.EtiologyT2DM develops through a complex interaction of genetic predisposition and environmental or...
Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...