Children who are bullied may suffer from long-term health consequences, according to a recent study. Researchers at Duke Medicine found that bullied children may suffer from chronic systemic inflammation that persists into adulthood.

Aside from potential health consequences for victims of bullying, the researchers discovered that individuals who bullied others may see health benefits from increasing their social standing by bullying.

William E. Copeland, PhD, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine and the study’s lead author, said in a statement, “Our findings look at the biological consequences of bullying, and by studying a marker of inflammation, provide a potential mechanism for how this social interaction can affect later health functioning.”

Prior studies have suggested that childhood bullying victims suffer from emotional and social consequences into adulthood, such as increased anxiety and depression.

However, bullied children also report various health problems, including pain and susceptibility to illness.

Children who are bullied tend to get sick more often than those who are not, with ailments such as stomachaches, headaches, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite, according to researchers. The new study found that children who were bullied experienced higher levels of inflammation as young adults than their peers who were not bullied.

An increased amount of inflammation could ultimately lead to health problems such as heart disease in the future, Copeland explained.

According to dosomething.org, more than 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year.

A total of 1,420 kids ages nine to 21 were involved in the study.