Are your kids starting on the path to heart disease in their adult life? Research is suggesting so. In a study in the New England Journal of Medicine looked at 9,000 overweight or obese children (ages 3-19) for heart disease risk factors which included high blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. Results demonstrated that weight status was associated with poorer health status in regard to heart disease risk. Obese children had higher blood pressure, worse cholesterol profiles and higher blood sugar levels than their overweight counterparts which suggests the more overweight a child is, the higher the risk of developing heart disease later in life.
Remember habits can change but they get harder the older we get. Instilling good habits now can make a huge difference. It is important to teach children the importance of a balanced nutritious diet with regular physical activity. The best way to have children understand is to lead by example. If you think your habits could use some improvement doing it for your children is a pretty good motivator.
