Washington (SmartAboutHealth) - A new study presented at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific sessions in New Orleans has found that fat ch ildren have arteries which are as clogged up as a 45-year old man.

Researchers from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine and Children’s Mercy Hospital carried out the study on 70 kids between the ages of 6 and 16-years old.

What they found was that by measuring the thickness of the inner walls of the cartoid arteries, that these obese kids were far from healthy.

They found a direct link between BMI and the chance of having their arteries clogged.

Those who were obese were said to have arteries that were as clogged up as those of a 45-year old man.

The build-up of fat in the arteries can lead to the development of heart attacks, stroke, and death.