Stress During Childhood Linked to Increased Risk of Diabetes, Poor Heart Health

Consistent high stress, whether real or perceived, during childhood may contribute to an increased risk of diabetes and poor heart health, a new study reports. The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, reveals that when people experience stress as young children, they are more likely to be obese and are at greater risk of experiencing metabolic issues, which include diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The findings are a stark call to action to reduce childhood stress, especially as the rates of depression and anxiety in children have increased over time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC), and as cardiometabolic diseases, which include cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are the leading cause of death in the United States....