Researching why people with obesity since childhood are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Overweight people who have been so since childhood are at especially high risk of heart disease and stroke. We want to know why these people are at higher risk. This study is being conducted to see whether being overweight from childhood affects the body differently than becoming overweight as an adult. Specific questions we examine are: How does developing obesity as a child affect fat and muscle differently than if we gain weight as adults? Do obese adults who were overweight children respond differently to weight loss than those who became obese as adults? Participants in this study will undergo a diet and exercise weight loss program. The results from this study will help us understand whether different treatment approaches should be considered, minimizing disease risk in people with obesity.
