Fat Boys, Beware

How parents can help kids, especially overweight sons, avoid the dangers of high blood pressure

For years pediatricians didn't worry much about treating hypertension in their patients. After all, kids grow so fast, it's hard keeping up with their shoe size, let alone their blood pressure. Sure, hypertension in adults places them at greater risk of heart attack and stroke. But nobody likes the idea of starting youngsters on blood-pressure medicine they could wind up taking the rest of their lives. Who knows what previously unheard-of side effects could crop up after five or six decades of daily use? The rationale has been: kids grow out of so many things, maybe they'll grow out of this...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!