Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that obese children as young as three years old have an increased chance to have heart disease as an adult. The study found elevated levels of inflammatory markers that led to this finding at the age of three and again at the age of six and at nine.

Dr. Asheley Cockrell Skinner, an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine stated, “We’re seeing a relationship between weight status and elevated inflammatory markers much earlier than we expected. Most adults understand that being overweight or obese isn’t good for them, but not as many people realize that it may be unhealthy for young children to be overweight.”

Cam Patterson, M.D., M.B.A., UNC’s Chief of Cardiology and Director of UNC McAllister Heart Institute, said he “found it alarming that inflammation association with obesity is present even in the youngest children. What it means is that the inflammatory process that damages blood vessels around the heart may begin much earlier than we have realized.”

Mrs. Obama was on newscasts last evening discussing the childhood obesity problem in our country. She is a very strong advocate for us to encourage healthy eating among all of us, especially the very young. Remember you have resources available to you, such as www.letsmove.gov and www.mypyramid.gov.