Many people assume that the health problems associated with being overweight start when you when you get older but recent research seen by Ukmedix clearly shows that even teenagers that are overweight and obese are putting their hearts under stress and therefore are in a high risk category for heart problems. The scientists who looked at the young hearts of teenagers saw that the obesity in adolescence was connected with a reduced cardio function as well as excess cardiac mass.

The monitoring of their hearts also showed that obese and overweight teenagers were in possession of an enlarged left ventricle which is the most important pumping chamber in the heart. Obviously with time the stress on the heart will build up and can eventually cause strokes and heart attacks.

The scientists were keen to show that the heart was being damaged at this early age and that the obesity-cardio problem was not one just to be worried about in adults but in children and teenagers too. Ukmedix advises that children are educated and taught about diet in a rational and logical way and that they are not forced to eat boring and unhealthy food as this can give them an aversion to dieting.

Lots of fruit and vegetables are important for a weight loss diet and it is alos important to ensure that they are of good quality so that they taste good and the children don't dislike them. Vegetables have been shown in more than one research project to actually aid in keeping the arteries clear of heart attack inducing plaque that builds up on the arterial walls as well as to be a healthy addition to a weight loss diet. The medical name for this condition is atherosclerosis and leads to a narrowing of arteries which puts you in a high risk category for heart disease and strokes.