I hate to admit it but, I was the couch potato in my family. It wasn’t that I didn’t like sports, it was just that I was really, really B-A-D at sports! (I hate to be bad at anything!)
Someone had to come in last at a track meet and that was my designation. Plus, quite frankly, I simply liked music more. Given the choice of playing outdoors, bike riding, running in 100 degree heat with sweat dripping off every pore of my body and smelling worse than old gym shorts or sitting inside in the nice cool air conditioned living room playing the piano – well, duh! Music won every time!!!
As a result, I struggled with my weight. I was never exactly “fat” but I certainly was not as thin as my brothers and sister. I finally found a place where I could excel in sports when I reached high school, by joining the drill team. But prior to that, exercise wasn’t on my list of daily activities. The problem with my inactivity as a child is that I may have been inadvertently setting myself up to be at greater risk of heart disease as an adult.
In a study conducted by the Medical College of Georgia, researchers found that children who had a high body fat content and were less fit, may be at greater risk for developing heart disease later in life. The arteries of children with higher body fat were found to be “stiff” arteries as compared to children with a normal body mass index and body fat content.
Stiff arteries are one of the symptoms of atherosclerosis, a form of arteriosclerosis. In addition to being strong, arteries which are healthy are also very flexible and elastic in nature. For those with atherosclerosis, the arteries have become clogged with a buildup of fat, which causes them to lose their flexibility and become stiff. This results in reduced blood flow which may also lead to blood clots. Blood clots in turn may lead to stroke or heart attack.
Obesity is one of the risk factors for developing atherosclerosis. Just like obesity, atherosclerosis does not happen overnight. Most people are not even aware of the fat buildup in their arteries until the damage has already been done. This study appears to confirm the long held suspicion that atherosclerosis may begin as early as childhood.
The good news is that atherosclerosis is preventable. I know it sounds a bit simplistic but if you address the risk factor for heart disease and remove it, the risk goes away. Atherosclerosis is no different. Simple lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise can eliminate the risk.
The same is true for children. Regular exercise in children was found to reduce their risk of heart disease as well as that of developing diabetes. Improvement was found by as little as 20 minutes of daily aerobic exercise over a 12-week period.
In this day and age of a television set in every room, Nintendo, Game Boy, videos (even on cell phones!), and CD mania, it’s easy to see how children can become immersed in the multimedia revolution to the detriment of their long term health.
I volunteer at local area schools and it appears that many campuses are hearing the call regarding childhood obesity and placing an emphasis, even at the elementary level, on making good, healthy food choices. I’ve also observed some campuses that have a 15 minute “fitness” activity each day outside of the regular physical education class. As parents, there is much you can do to help your children live a healthy life. In addition to preparing healthy meals, encourage them to be active.
Limit the amount of time spent in front of the television or playing video games. Encourage them to actually go outside (which seems to be a novel concept to some children today) and play outdoors. Better yet, participate in a fitness activity with them (bike riding, nature walk, backyard ball game).
Prevention is always the best choice when it comes to health. Chances are, if you model a healthy lifestyle, your children will follow your example. In doing so, you just may give them a heart disease free future.
Sources:
Medical College of Georgia (2010, April 14). Childhood obesity linked to stiff arteries. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2010/04/100412095536.htm
Arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis, The Mayo Clinic, 28 Jun 2008, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/arteriosclerosis-atherosclerosis/DS00525
Nationwide Children's Hospital (2008, May 12). Reason For Concern In Childhood And Adolescent Obesity. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 18, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com¬ /releases/2008/05/080509133056.htm