VOA标准英语2010年-Childhood Obesity Linked to Adult Hear

C-reactive protein is an indication of inflammation in the body, and, at high levels, is considered an early sign of future heart disease.

"It's a risk factor in a similar way that elevated cholesterol¹ is a risk factor for heart disease," says Asheley Skinner, a scientist at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Obese² adults can have high levels of C-reactive protein. Now, after analyzing³ data from a large national health and nutrition survey, Skinner reports finding similarly elevated levels in obese children as well, some as young as 3 years old.

Fat unhealthy at any age

Although most adults understand that being obese is not good for them, Skinner says many don't realize that it is also unhealthy for children to be overweight. "Even in these young kids," she points out, "when they're overweight, there's something different about their bodies. Their bodies are already producing things that could, long term, be damaging to them, even when they're really young."

A child's weight and levels of C-reactive protein are strongly related, and Skinner says this correlation⁴ increases as a child grows older. "The strength of this relationship between obesity⁵ and inflammation is concerning, that something's happening that could be cumulative⁶."

Often parents don't realize there's a problem because their child does not look fat. But in a small, short person, Skinner says, just 3 kilograms can make the difference between a healthy weight and obesity. She adds that, since a lifetime of obesity may put a child at greater risk for heart disease and other health problems, parents need to be concerned about their child's weight from the very start.

Skinner's study appears in the journal "Pediatrics."
 

1 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

2 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。

3 analyzing   

v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析

参考例句：

• Analyzing the date of some socialist countries presents even greater problem s. 分析某些社会主义国家的统计数据，暴露出的问题甚至更大。 来自辞典例句
• He undoubtedly was not far off the mark in analyzing its predictions. 当然，他对其预测所作的分析倒也八九不离十。 来自辞典例句

4 correlation   

n.相互关系，相关，关连

参考例句：

• The second group of measurements had a high correlation with the first.第二组测量数据与第一组高度相关。
• A high correlation exists in America between education and economic position.教育和经济地位在美国有极密切的关系。

5 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

6 cumulative   

adj.累积的，渐增的

参考例句：

• This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
• The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。