Inactive Childhood and Adolescence Contributes to Metabolic Syndrome in Middle Age

Lack of physical activity during childhood and adolescence can increase the risk of many health problems, including obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes in later life, a new study says.

The findings are based on an investigation conducted by a team of researchers from the Umea University in Sweden. According to them, long hours in front of the TV and lack of physical activity/exercise can put children and teens at a higher risk of experiencing metabolic syndrome by 43 years of age.

Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders like obesity and high blood pressure that occurs together and increases the risk for coronary artery disease, diabetes and stroke.

"The results demonstrate that we need to consider how we can reduce sedentary lifestyle among children and adolescents," lead author of the study, Patrik Wennberg from the Umeå University, said in a news release. "It may be more important than only focusing on increased fitness and sports activities for those who are already interested."

According to the background information provided in the study, previous studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of metabolic syndrome. The new study succeeded in highlighting the long-term impact of sedentary behavior.

For the study, Wennberg and colleagues followed nearly 900 children from ninth grade (1981) until they became 40 years or older (2008).

The findings proved the hidden risks associated with an inactive childhood and adolescence.

"Both TV viewing and low leisure-time physical activity in adolescence independently predicted the metabolic syndrome and several of the metabolic syndrome components in mid-adulthood," the authors concluded.  "These findings suggest that reduced TV viewing in adolescence, in addition to regular physical activity, may contribute to cardiometabolic health later in life."

Results of the study have been published online in the journal Diabetes Care.