“Our findings show that sarcopenic obesity, which we have previously seen mostly in adults, is now also found in children of primary school age. This is a very worrying development and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease later in life”, says Mai-Lis Hellénius, Professor at the Department of Medicine in Solna, in a press release from the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, which funded the study.
The WHO considers childhood obesity to be one of the most serious challenges to public health globally. Sweden also faces this challenge, as more than one in five children of middle and high school age is overweight or obese, according to the Public Health Agency of Sweden. Over the past three decades, the proportion of 11-15 year olds in Sweden who are overweight or obese has quadrupled. Abdominal obesity can increase the risk of dyslipidaemia, high blood pressure and high blood sugar. In the long term, abdominal obesity can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, common cancers and cognitive disorders.
The adverse outcomes from the combination of abdominal obesity and weak muscle strength, known as sarcopenic obesity and has been recognised in adults. But the new study, part of the “En frisk generation” intervention programme, shows that the problem is already present in children as young as eight years old. The programme has been working since 2011 to support families with children in deprived areas to adopt healthier lifestyles. Previous research under the programme has shown a clear impact, including increased physical activity, improved quality of life and better integration.