A recent Finnish study conducted by the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland has found that high levels of sedentary behavior and physical inactivity from childhood can increase cardiac workload in adolescence, which could lead to heart failure and other heart diseases. The study followed sedentary behavior and physical activity levels for eight years from childhood to adolescence and showed that adolescents who accumulated high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity had a higher cardiac workload. Particularly, adolescents with low levels of vigorous physical activity had the highest cardiac workload.
Furthermore, the study also found that high levels of sedentary behavior and low levels of physical activity were associated with a higher total body fat percentage. Body fat percentage was found to partly explain the associations between sedentary behavior, physical activity, and cardiac workload. Interestingly, light physical activity was not found to be associated with cardiac workload. These results highlight the importance of increasing physical activity, especially moderate and vigorous activity, reducing sedentary behavior, and preventing overweight from childhood to prevent heart diseases.
Dr. Eero Haapala from the University of Jyväskylä stresses the concerning fact that youth spend nine to ten hours a day being sedentary, with only one in ten adolescents accumulating the recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity. He emphasizes the importance of high levels of daily moderate to vigorous physical activity as a normal part of childhood and adolescence as it not only improves heart health but also general well-being. The study is based on the ongoing Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study at the University of Eastern Finland, with 153 adolescents being followed over eight years from childhood to adolescence. Heart function and strain were measured in adolescence, and the study was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Overall, the findings from this study underscore the critical role that increasing physical activity, particularly moderate and vigorous activity, plays in preventing heart diseases from childhood onwards. By reducing sedentary behavior and preventing overweight, individuals can lower their cardiac workload and reduce the risk of developing heart conditions in the future. The study highlights the importance of promoting a more active lifestyle from a young age to not only improve heart health but also enhance overall well-being. It is essential for parents, educators, and policymakers to prioritize physical activity and reduce sedentary behavior in children and adolescents to prevent the burden of heart diseases later in life.
