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  • Review Article
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Childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease: links and prevention strategies

Abstract

The prevalence and severity of pediatric obesity have dramatically increased since the late 1980s, raising concerns about a subsequent increase in cardiovascular outcomes. Strong evidence, particularly from autopsy studies, supports the concept that precursors of adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) begin in childhood, and that pediatric obesity has an important influence on overall CVD risk. Lifestyle patterns also begin early and impact CVD risk. In addition, obesity and other CVD risk factors tend to persist over time. However, whether childhood obesity causes adult CVD directly, or does so by persisting as adult obesity, or both, is less clear. Regardless, sufficient data exist to warrant early implementation of both obesity prevention and treatment in youth and adults. In this Review, we examine the evidence supporting the impact of childhood obesity on adult obesity, surrogate markers of CVD, components of the metabolic syndrome, and the development of CVD. We also evaluate how obesity treatment strategies can improve risk factors and, ultimately, adverse clinical outcomes.

Key Points

  • The prevalence and severity of pediatric obesity have dramatically increased since the late 1980s

  • Precursors of adult cardiovascular disease begin in childhood, with obesity as an important correlate of overall cardiovascular risk

  • Lifestyle patterns begin early in childhood and influence cardiovascular risk

  • Obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors persist over time

  • Obesity prevention and reduction should begin early in childhood to prevent adult cardiovascular disease

  • The pervasive nature of adult cardiovascular disease translates to an urgent need for new population-based obesity-prevention strategies

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Figure 1: Temporal association between cardiovascular disease and childhood and adulthood obesity, and potential mechanisms that increase cardiovascular risk in adults.
Figure 2: Insulin resistance in adolescents with obesity and T2D.
Figure 3: Relationship between childhood and adulthood cardiovascular risk factors and adult carotid IMT.
Figure 4: Relationship between childhood and adulthood cardiovascular risk factors and adult pulse wave velocity.

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All authors contributed equally to discussion of content, writing, and reviewing/editing the manuscript before submission and after peer-review. K. J. Nadeau and D. M. Maahs also researched data for the article.

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Nadeau, K., Maahs, D., Daniels, S. et al. Childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease: links and prevention strategies. Nat Rev Cardiol 8, 513–525 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2011.86

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