Child tantrums 'put health at risk'

Temper tantrums may trigger changes in the body

Children who lose their temper or throw tantrums could be putting their health at risk, say experts.

A study by a team of international researchers suggests "angry" children have a greater chance of developing heart disease later in life.

They have found that temper tantrums can trigger changes in the body, raising cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

The researchers said the findings highlight the need for children to be given help to enable them to control their anger.

Personality tests

The research team, from the University of Pittsburgh in the United States and the University of Helsinki in Finland, based their findings on a study of 134 American children.

They assessed two groups of children - one aged between eight and 10 and another aged between 15 and 17.

There is a need for interventions designed to reduce hostility in young people

Dr Karen Matthews

They used personality tests to assess their level of hostility. They found that children with high scores were more likely to have what doctors call metabolic syndrome.

It is seen as an early sign of heart disease. Risk factors for the syndrome include obesity, an inability to absorb insulin, high levels of "bad" cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Children with at least two of these symptoms may be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

The researchers re-examined the children three years later. They found that those who had scored high in the hostility tests continued to show signs of having the syndrome.

In particular, they were more likely to be obese and have problems absorbing insulin. These are major risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

The researchers said the findings showed health professionals should take hostility in children seriously.

Dr Karen Matthews, one of the researchers, said: "There is a need for interventions designed to reduce hostility in young people to prevent the precursors to cardiovascular disease, like obesity of Type II diabetes, which has become a huge health problem in children."

The study is published in the American Psychological Association's journal Health Psychology.