Seema Kumar, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Mayo Clinic: One in three children are overweight or obese in the United States right now.

Vivien Williams: That says Mayo Clinic pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Seema Kumar puts kids at risk of adult diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. A study in Annals of Internal Medicine reports it's not just being overweight that's the problem.

Dr. Kumar: What they found is that lower aerobic capacity and low muscle strength were associated with increased risk for type 2 diabetes in adulthood.

Vivien Williams: Even if study participants, 18-year-old males, were of average weight. So what does this tell us?

Dr. Kumar: It does suggest that improvement of muscle strength and improvement of aerobic capacity in our teenagers might be one way we can develop that we can prevent type 2 diabetes from developing in adulthood.

Vivien Williams: Physical activity strengthens bones, helps maintain weight and boost confidence plus it lowers stress, anxiety and depression.

Dr. Kumar: Children who are physically active tend to do better in school.

Vivien Williams: Any fun activity that gets kids moving is good for their health.

For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Vivien Williams.

Oct. 29, 2022