UPDATE: Although you may not see heart attacks and strokes until middle age, the process of cardiovascular disease can begin early in life — often as children. If you’re a parent, grandparent, or caretaker of children, this information is vital to their longevity. KRON 4 Morning News Weekend anchor Marty Gonzalez and I talk about how to identify who’s at risk and what can be done to prevent or delay it.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Children
In a study of young American children, over 50% of children aged 10-14 years showed evidence of early heart disease (fatty streaks and plaque accumulated in the arteries). A higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with:
- Obesity
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Family history of CVD
- Smoking
How Active and Inactive Should Children Be?
- Engage in 60+ minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily
- Spend 2 hours or less doing sedentary non-academic activities, such as watching TV, playing video/computer games
Inactivity at any age can lead to lifelong habits and result in developing chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Better in School
An American College of Sports Medicine research study found that kids that engage in vigorous-intensity* activity were better able to concentrate and even exhibited fewer behavioral problems than kids that participated in moderate-intensity activity.
*Vigorous exercise is performed at a higher intensity and is continuous, such as soccer, basketball, football, ice skating, beach volleyball, baseball, softball, jump roping, swimming, and singles tennis.
How Many Steps Are Enough?
- Children 6-12 years old: 12,000 to 15,000 steps per day (about 6 to 7.5 miles)
- Less than 5,000 steps per day is considered sedentary (about 2.5 miles)
Exercise and Nutrition
- Kids need fuel to have the energy to be physically active.
- When kids feel good and perform well, they’ll have more fun.
- Provide children heart-healthy meals and snacks.
Karen’s Fit Tip: Start the cycle… By engaging in activities with your kids (and grandkids) when they’re young, you can make physical activity a memorable and lifelong family affair. It’s a great way to spend time together, connect, and be entertained.
