Along with not smoking, children should learn to safeguard their hearts with regular exercise, healthy eating and weight control. Active lifestyles in children promote lower blood pressure, improved psychological well-being and a predisposition to increased physical activity as adults. Physically active children are also less likely to have weight problems, both now and in the future. People who are more than 30 percent over their ideal weight are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Since 1966, there has been a 54 percent increase in the prevalence of obesity among children ages six to 11 years.
Obese children are at an increased risk for obesity as adults.
To prevent overweight and obesity, children should learn to follow a diet low in fat and high in complex carbohydrates, in addition to regular exercise. The maintenance of a healthy lifestyle may prevent an excessive increase in weight, sedentary activity, high blood pressure and cholesterol levels characteristic of many people in their thirties and forties. Healthy Physical Activity Guidelines for Children Regular walking, bicycling or outdoor play. Participation in age-appropriate sports, lessons or clubs. Daily exercise that includes a minimum of 20 minutes of coordinated large-muscle exercise, e.g., running and jumping.