Obese children as young as 7 have worrying levels of compounds linked to heart disease and heart attacks.
Obese youngsters have up to 10 times the normal amount of a compound associated with inflammation, and another that helps blood to clot. Both compounds are known to raise the risk of heart attacks and heart disease in adults.
Obese children have high levels of c-reactive protein, which is linked to inflammation, and abnormally high levels of the clotting factor fibrinogen.