http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/10/16/obesity-arteries-part-two.aspxChildhood obesity has become a growing health concern, with 15 percent of children in the United States who are overweight. In children as young as 7, carotid arteries, those responsible for carrying blood to the head, are becoming thick and stiff. StudiesenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP1 (Build: 31106.3070)