Study Finds Sedentary Lifestyle Puts Strain on Young Hearts: Importance of Physical Activity for Heart Health

A recent Finnish study has found that a sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical activity in childhood can put a strain on young hearts in adolescence. The study, conducted by the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland, followed sedentary behavior and physical activity levels in children for eight years.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, revealed that adolescents who accumulated high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity had a higher cardiac workload in adolescence. This increased cardiac workload is a predictor of heart failure and other heart diseases.

The study also found that high levels of sedentary behavior and low physical activity were associated with a higher total body fat percentage, which partly explained the link between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and cardiac workload. Light physical activity did not show the same association with cardiac workload.

Dr. Eero Haapala from the University of Jyväskylä emphasized the importance of increasing physical activity, especially moderate to vigorous activity, reducing sedentary behavior, and preventing overweight from childhood to prevent heart diseases. He highlighted the concerning statistic that only one in ten adolescents accumulate the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity.

The study, based on the ongoing PANIC study at the University of Eastern Finland, followed 153 adolescents from childhood to adolescence to measure heart function and strain. The results underscore the importance of promoting physical activity from a young age to ensure heart health and overall well-being.

For more information, the study can be found in the Journal of the American Heart Association under the DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.123.031837.