The study looked at the incidence of
metabolic syndrome; typically diagnosed in adults, it raises the risk
of heart disease and diabetes. The syndrome consists of a collection of
disorders: hypertension, elevated triglycerides, low HDL (good)
cholesterol, glucose intolerance and obesity. If an individual
possesses three or more of these findings, that’s when the trouble
starts.
The investigation involved nearly 400
students from ages 7 to 10. They were questioned regarding physical
activity levels, given fitness and physical exams, and a battery of
blood tests. These individuals were re-examined when they were 14 to 17
years of age, with 18 diagnosed as having metabolic syndrome. These
teens were five times more likely to have low exercise levels at the
start of the investigation than those without the syndrome.
This study tells us that kids who do not
exercise increase by five times their chances of developing metabolic
syndrome. It seems likely that if the study had progressed beyond seven
years, the findings would be far more ominous.
McMurray concludes, “Children today live
a very sedentary life and are prone to obesity. Previously we didn’t
know if low fitness levels were an influence. It’s obvious now that
there is a link and this is something which we need to pay attention to
by encouraging our kids to keep fit, or suffer the consequences later
in life.”
Many authorities caution individuals to
check with their doctor before starting an exercise program. However,
since sedentary living is even more dangerous than exercising, perhaps
those individuals avoiding workouts should be the ones to consult a
doctor. Short-term inactivity may not be harmful, but when extended
over years and decades, damage mounts with serious, often fatal results.
