A new study has found that sedentary time in childhood is linked to heart damage later in life, even in those with normal weight and blood pressure.
The study, which was presented at ESC Congress 2023, found that each one-minute increase in sedentary time from childhood to young adulthood was associated with a 0.004 g/m2.7 increase in left ventricular mass between adolescence and young adulthood. A previous study in adults found that a similar increase in left ventricular mass was associated with a two-fold increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and death.
The researchers say that parents should encourage their children to move more and limit their time spent on social media and video games.