[Cardiovascular changes in childhood obesity]

Abstract

Over the last 35 years there has been an almost 50% increase in childhood obesity worldwide. Childhood obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in adulthood, and in children with overweight or obesity pathologic changes have been found down to the age of two years. These changes are present in vasculature, heart and autonomic nervous system and affect blood pressure control. Overweight and obesity must be prevented, detected and treated at an early age, as even a small weight loss reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease significantly.