Sedentary childhoods may lead to heavier, less healthy hearts in the future.

Sedentary childhoods may lead to heavier, less healthy hearts in the future.

Children’s Sedentary Lifestyle Linked to Heart Damage in Young Adulthood

We all know that children need to be active and get off the sofa, but a new study has shown just how important it is for their long-term health. The study linked childhood sitting time with heart damage in young adulthood, even when weight and blood pressure were within healthy ranges. The findings highlight the need for children and teenagers to move more and reduce their sedentary behavior.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, examined the cumulative effect of sedentary time on cardiac damage later in life. They used smartwatch activity trackers to assess sedentary time in children at ages 11, 15, and 24. The weight of the heart’s left ventricle was measured using echocardiography at ages 17 and 24.

The results were alarming. The study included 766 children, and it was found that sedentary time increased from an average of 362 minutes a day at age 11 to 531 minutes a day in young adulthood. This increase of nearly three hours a day was associated with a heavier heart. Each one-minute increase in sedentary time from age 11 to 24 was linked to a 0.00 g/m2.7 increase in left ventricular mass. When multiplied by additional inactivity, this translated to a 0.7 g/m2.7 daily rise in left ventricular mass.

The increase in left ventricular mass is concerning because previous research has shown that a similar increase over a seven-year period in adults is associated with a twofold increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and death. Therefore, it is crucial to address sedentary behavior in childhood to prevent long-term cardiovascular problems.

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Dr. Andrew Agbaje, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of movement for children’s health. He stated, “Children and teenagers need to move more to protect their long-term health. All those hours of screen time in young people add up to a heavier heart, which we know from studies in adults raises the likelihood of heart attack and stroke.”

In light of these findings, it’s essential for parents to encourage their children to be more active. Dr. Agbaje advises taking children out for walks and limiting their time spent on social media and video games. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”

This study sheds light on the detrimental effects of a sedentary lifestyle in childhood and emphasizes the importance of physical activity for overall health. It serves as a reminder that children need to engage in regular exercise and movement to protect their hearts and reduce the risk of future heart problems.

While these findings should be further explored and verified by additional research, they offer valuable insights into the impact of sedentary behavior on cardiovascular health. By recognizing the importance of physical activity and implementing strategies to reduce sedentary behavior in children, we can help them maintain a healthy heart and improve their long-term well-being.

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Source: European Society of Cardiology Congress 2023, news release, Aug. 23, 2023