Daily HealthBeat Tip - July 08, 2008

Fatty livers and kids’ hearts

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Overweight kids may have fatty acids called triglycerides build up in their livers. That could be trouble because, in grown-ups, high triglycerides are a risk factor for heart disease.  

At the University of California, San Diego, Jeffrey Schwimmer compared overweight kids with and without nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. He says kids with the disease were more likely to have problems with blood sugar, blood pressure – and their triglycerides.

Schwimmer says overweight kids should be checked for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. And he encourages more attention to daily routines.

``Things such as their overall lifestyle – including nutrition, physical activity and avoiding smoking – will all be important.’’ (8 seconds)

The study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 07 2008