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	Being bullied at school has effects on the body that last for decades and can even shorten a person&rsquo;s life, new research suggests.</p>
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	Scientists found a significantly increased risk of stress-induced chronic inflammation in middle-aged men and women who had been bullied as children.</p>
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	This, in turn, is known to increase the chances of having blocked arteries, leading to potentially fatal heart attacks and strokes.</p>
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	In women, falling victim to childhood bullying was also found to raise the risk of being clinically obese in later life by about 40%.</p>
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	The findings come from a major study of more than 7,000 Britons born in 1958 whose parents provided information about their children&rsquo;s exposure to bullying at age seven and 11.</p>
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	Data on blood inflammation markers and obesity were collected when the participants were aged 45.</p>
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	Professor Louise Arseneault, from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King&rsquo;s College, London, who co-led the study, said: &ldquo;Our findings show that being bullied in childhood does get under your skin. We should move away from this idea that bullying is part of growing up and acceptable.</p>
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	&ldquo;Bullying is a part of growing up for many children from all social groups. While many important school programmes focus on preventing bullying behaviours, we tend to neglect the victims and their suffering.</p>
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	&ldquo;Our study implies that early interventions in support of the bullied children could not only limit psychological distress but also reduce physical health problems in adulthood.&rdquo;</p>
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	Previous research has linked bullying to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, poorer education and deficient social life.</p>
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	The new study, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, points to serious physical as well as psychological effects that can have a major impact on long-term health.</p>
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	Among the study participants, 28% were bullied occasionally in childhood and 15% frequently.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/not-only-is-bullying-horrible-it-can-shorten-your-life-331803.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/not-only-is-bullying-horrible-it-can-shorten-your-life-331803.html</a></p>
