Hardening of the arteries due to build-up of cholesterol plaques has been linked to obesity and this problem is even more pronounced in children who have type 2 diabetes.
Hardening of the arteries due to build-up of cholesterol plaques has been linked to obesity and this problem is even more pronounced in children who have type 2 diabetes.
Adults who are obese or suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus are at higher risk for stroke and heart attacks. They are also prone to develop an increase in the thickness and stiffness of carotid arteries, large arteries in the neck that carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain. As obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults is a risk factor for developing changes in the carotid arteries, researchers in America sought to determine whether similar structural and functional changes in the carotids exist in youth with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with those who are lean.
They studied 446 subjects between 10 and 24 years of age to examine cholesterol plaques in the carotid arteries. Out of 446 subjects, 182 were lean, 136 were obese and the rest 128 were both obese and diabetic. Ultrasound examination of the carotids to see cholesterol plaques was performed in all the participants along with the measurement of their height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar level and insulin levels.
It was found that obese subjects without diabetes had greater plaque build-up than their lean counterparts. Subjects with both obesity and diabetes, however, had the worst build-up. Statistical analysis suggested that both obesity and diabetes were risk factors for plaque build-up.
The results suggest that youth with obesity and diabetes have abnormalities in carotid thickness and stiffness that are only partially explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Doctors need to act early to address obesity and other factors that may have a strong impact on the future risk of heart attack and stroke in their young patients.
Adults who are obese or suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus are at higher risk for stroke and heart attacks. They are also prone to develop an increase in the thickness and stiffness of carotid arteries, large arteries in the neck that carry oxygen-rich blood to the brain. As obesity and type 2 diabetes in adults is a risk factor for developing changes in the carotid arteries, researchers in America sought to determine whether similar structural and functional changes in the carotids exist in youth with obesity or type 2 diabetes mellitus compared with those who are lean.
They studied 446 subjects between 10 and 24 years of age to examine cholesterol plaques in the carotid arteries. Out of 446 subjects, 182 were lean, 136 were obese and the rest 128 were both obese and diabetic. Ultrasound examination of the carotids to see cholesterol plaques was performed in all the participants along with the measurement of their height, weight, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar level and insulin levels.
It was found that obese subjects without diabetes had greater plaque build-up than their lean counterparts. Subjects with both obesity and diabetes, however, had the worst build-up. Statistical analysis suggested that both obesity and diabetes were risk factors for plaque build-up.
The results suggest that youth with obesity and diabetes have abnormalities in carotid thickness and stiffness that are only partially explained by traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Doctors need to act early to address obesity and other factors that may have a strong impact on the future risk of heart attack and stroke in their young patients.
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