Playing sports and being active in childhood could help reduce the risk of suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome later in life, according to a study.

In research reported online by the British Medical Journal, experts in London said that the disabling condition which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is more common in sedentary youngsters.

"Contrary to previous suggestions that high levels of exercise increase risk, we found that the most sedentary children were at greatest risk," said Russell Viner of the Royal Free and University College Medical School.

He added that the finding is further evidence of the need to promote healthy exercise and reduce sedentary behavior among children.

Viner and his colleagues studied the medical history of 16,567 babies born in 1970 whose health had been monitored until they were 30 years old.

Children who had higher levels of exercise had a lower risk, while being female and from a higher social class seemed to increase the chance of the illness.

But there was no association with academic ability, obesity, birth order, psychological problems and allergies.

The symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are similar to those of influenza.

But unlike influenza, the headache, tender lymph nodes, weakness, muscle and joint aches and inability to concentrate, continue for six months and longer.

Sufferers -- more often women than men -- are often too tired to do normal activities and feel exhausted. In the United States an estimated 500,000 people have the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We found no evidence to support the suggestion that chronic illness, whether physical or mental, in either parent is common among adolescents with CFS/ME," Viner added.

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Reference Source 89
October 6, 2004

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