Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Published : March 29, 2014 2:00 PM IST
Have you got your obese kid enrolled in a gym, yoga centre or a fat prevention programme? Even if this may not give best results on reducing body fat, be sure that this would lower your kid's blood pressure. One of the serious health consequences of obesity is elevated blood pressure (BP) in children. Earlier researches have found that high BP in children usually follows them into adulthood, carrying with it a wide range of possible negative consequences.
Now, a meta-analysis of published studies of the effect of child obesity intervention programmes on BP has found that whether such efforts prevented obesity or not, many of them reduced BP in children. It also found that such programmes promoted both healthy eating and physical activity among kids. 'Of the 28 obesity interventions with complete data that we analysed, 13 (46 percent) had a favourable effect on both adiposity and BP and 11 interventions (39 percent) had a significant effect on the reduction of BP, even if they did not affect adiposity,' informed lead author Youfa Wang from University at Buffalo. (Read: Why is childhood obesity on the rise?)
It is important to identify obesity intervention programmes that can help children develop healthy lifestyles and keep BP at an optimal level because this helps them avoid many long-term health consequences, he added. The researchers examined more than 130 studies published between 1985 and 2013 that were conducted in high-income counties worldwide. Wang and his research team now aim to assess the additional benefits of obesity prevention programmes for children and to develop the most effective programmes possible. The latest research was published in the journal Circulation. (Read: Tackling obesity in children)
What is childhood obesity?
Childhood obesity is a serious problem that is on the rise these days and there are enough reasons which contribute to the growing numbers. The prime one is sedentary lifestyles. Children don't play outdoor games these days. There aren't many facilities for playing games like basketball, football, cricket, etc. Moreover, they have options aplenty at home like watching TV, playing video games, mobile and computer games. (Read: What is making your kid obese?)
With inputs from IANS
You may also like read:
For more articles on childhood obesity, visit our childhood obesity section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
