Many Teenagers In U.S. At Risk Of Developing Heart Disease As Adults

Date: Apr-01-2013According to new research, published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, teenagers with poor health behaviors and cardiovascular risk factors are at an increased risk of developing heart disease in later life.

The researchers calculated the cardiovascular health of American teenagers by using seven different health components, including: blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), healthy diet, cholesterol, physical activity and smoking.

A total of 4,673 teenagers between 12 to 19 years of age were involved in the study.

The adolescents were of all major ethnic groups and were equally divided between females and males. The number of teenagers who were either poor or ideal for each component represented a "snap shot" of the teenage cardiovascular health in the U.S.

The healthy diet score, which is the recommended intake of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole-grains set by the AHA, revealed that 80 percent of teens have a poor diet.

There is evidence that  teenagers consuming high levels of fructose are at an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

According to Christina M. Shay, Ph.D., M.A., study lead author and assistant professor of biostatistics and epidemiology in the College of Public Health at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City:

"The far less-than-optimal physical activity levels and dietary intake of current U.S. teenagers, is translating into obesity and overweight that, in turn, is likely influencing worsening rates of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and blood glucose at these young ages."

The results showed:

Less than half of all teens had at least five acceptable levels of health factors
Only close to 1 percent of teens had ideal healthy diet levels
67 percent of girls and 66 percent of boys had ideal BMI levels
33 percent of teens had poor or intermediate cholesterol levels
44 percent of girls and 67 percent of boys reached ideal physical activity levels

Most teenagers hadn't ever tried smoking or hadn't smoked within a month of the interview.

Shay concluded:

"The status of heart health during childhood has been shown to be a strong predictor of heart health in adulthood. Members of the medical and scientific community, parents, teachers and legislators all need to focus their efforts on the prevention and improvement of all aspects of cardiovascular health - particularly optimal physical activity levels and diet - as early in life as possible, beginning at birth."

The study was funded by the the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Written by Joseph Nordqvist

Copyright: Medical News Today

Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today
Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.