Overweight boys increase their stroke risk in adulthood

Obesity in childhood causes increased risk of later strokes
Obesity is generally unhealthy and can lead to various diseases. Researchers now found that boys who were overweight in their teens increased the likelihood of adult stroke by up to 80 percent.

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden found that obesity in boys increases the likelihood of adult stroke by up to 80 percent. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "Neurology".

Overweight can lead to social isolation and health problems. Especially adolescent boys should avoid being overweight. For doctors found that overweight in male teenagers increases the risk of a stroke in later life massively. (Image: dementevajulia / fotolia.com)

Male adolescents should avoid fast food
When children are overweight, this does not generally increase their risk of stroke as adults, the experts explain. However, if boys are overweight during their puberty, their risk of stroke increases in adulthood. So male adolescents should avoid the consumption of fast food and similar calorie bombs. This can prevent weight gain as a teenager and prevent high blood pressure in adulthood, the researchers explain.

Even a slight increase in BMI increases the risk of stroke
A high blood pressure leads to a weakening of the blood vessels in the brain, which leads to an increased risk for strokes, the physicians explain. Swedish scientists found that in men between the ages of eight and twenty, every two-point increase in body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of stroke by 20 percent. For the current study, 7,669 men were medically monitored over an average of 38 years. During this period, 918 subjects suffered a stroke, the doctors say.

More strokes noted in young adults
The rate of strokes has increased significantly among young adults in recent years, explains study author Dr. Jenny Kindblom. Although we are unaware of the reasons for the increased risk, there is an association with obesity, adds the expert.

Obesity increases the likelihood of ischemic stroke
Obesity increases the risk of a so-called ischemic stroke due to obstruction of the arteries with fatty deposits, which can then cause a blood clot, explain the scientists. The blood clots cut off the blood supply to the brain. This can also cause a hemorrhagic stroke in which a weakened blood vessel in the brain burst, say the authors.

Obese children often have fewer real friendships
Obesity and obesity, according to the researchers lead to quite different negative effects in adolescents. Obese children tend to have fewer friends, and moreover, these children tend to consider acquaintances with other children as friendships, even though the other children do not consider them as friends, the researchers explain. Often overweight children are bullied and socially expelled. These factors can create a vicious cycle that leads to a further increase in weight because those affected by frustration eat even more.

How many participants suffered a stroke during medical surveillance?
Of the 1,800 normal-weight subjects aged eight years, who later became overweight later in teenage years, 67 participants (3.7 percent) suffered a stroke. In total, there were 990 participants who stayed overweight at the age of eight and later. Of these subjects, 36 (3.6 percent) had a stroke in the period of the investigation, explain the physicians.

High BMI increases high blood pressure
The researchers also found in their study that people with high BMI increases between the ages of eight and twenty, tend to develop high blood pressure as adults. And people with high blood pressure have been proven to be more likely to suffer a stroke, the experts add. (As)