Weighty Issues
You want your child to be caring and generous, but when it comes to cardiovascular health, having a big heart can be bad.
Helping your child stay active and maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure may prevent enlargement of the heart's left chamber, a condition that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Get off the sidelines and play with your kids. Let the calendar guide your activity. Basketball season? Shoot some hoops. In the fall, play flag football or rake a leafy labyrinth out of fallen leaves.
A recent series of studies reveals a link between unhealthy body mass index in childhood and an increase in the size of the heart's left chamber in young adulthood. In the studies, the risk of dangerous structural changes to the heart was even greater when paired with high blood pressure. Also, the heavier the child, the greater the damage was to the heart's structure and its capabilities.
Although lifestyle changes and drug therapy may reverse the enlargement, reducing or preventing obesity in children is a safer, more effective method. Fostering healthy eating habits that incorporate portion control and a menu full of nutrient-rich foods, along with regular exercise, can help your entire family maintain healthy weights. Make exercise a family affair with group bike rides, hikes, or short afternoon strolls to chat about your days. Family-focused activities make exercise fun while promoting quality time together.
