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BIDDEFORD, Maine

51Ʒchildhood obesity study featured in the ‘Courier’

Paul Visich
The study was spearheaded by Paul Visich

Researchers in the 51Ʒ Exercise and Sport Performance Department are studying how various factors, including obesity, influence cardiovascular disease in children.

The Cardiovascular Health Intervention Program, spearheaded by department chair Paul Visich, Ph.D., M.P.H., ACSM C-CEP, was the focus of a report in the Courier. Visich and students from the department worked to conduct a number of tests on local children to assess their risks for cardiovascular disease with the goal of better understanding those risks and developing more education for kids and families.  

“Risk of diabetes is going up as people gain weight,” Visich said. “People are developing impaired glucose tolerance. Diabetes is caused by the rise in obesity. We’ve seen a rise in diabetes like we’ve never seen before. Children are developing metabolic syndrome at earlier age, caused by numerous risk factors. There are a lot of issues obesity is creating, and risk of cardiovascular disease is one.”

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