PORTO ALEGRE: Encouraging physical activity and improving diet in children is crucial to cut deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), a new study suggests.
“Atherosclerosis – clogged arteries – starts in childhood and is more likely with a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet,” said study lead author Karine Turke.
“Exposure to these behaviors throughout life increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, so prevention should begin in childhood,” Turke said.
Cardiovascular disease is the world’s number one killer, causing 17.9 million deaths a year.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of overweight or obese infants and young children rose from 32 million globally in 1990 to 41 million in 2016.
Around 3.2 million deaths each year are due to insufficient physical activity.
(Agencies)
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