bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

moreOnThisArticles

urlAlias

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

sponsorType

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

socialHeadline

headline

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

publishedDate

additionalInfoBoxes

images

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

createdDate

sponsor

paywallTypes

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Tribune News Service

Keeping children healthy can be a big job.
From the day their children are born, parents ferry them to and from medical offices, getting their immune systems boosted, teeth cleaned, eyes checked and stuffy noses decongested.
But experts say there is one body part parents and healthcare professionals may be overlooking: the heart.
Paediatrician Dr Mona Sharifi, chief of general paediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven in the US state of Connecticut, is concerned there is not enough attention to the growing problem of cardiovascular disease risks in children and youth.
“We need to think about keeping their hearts healthy,” she says.
Heart disease and stroke are typically considered adult problems. But a growing body of research links cardiovascular events that occur in midlife to risk factors – such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking – that begin developing decades earlier, in childhood.

Some conditions, such as high blood pressure, are even showing up in childhood and adolescence. As a result, health experts recommend greater monitoring of children’s cardiovascular risks and earlier interventions.
“Parents should think about their child’s heart health even before their child is born,” says Dr Amy Peterson, a professor of paediatrics in the department of paediatric cardiology at the University of Wisconsin.
Studies show a mother’s health during pregnancy can affect her child’s cardiovascular health as early as adolescence and well into adulthood.
Maternal obesity, for example, can increase the offspring’s risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes in adulthood, as do maternal high blood pressure and diabetes.
“The start of what we think of as adult heart disease takes root in childhood or even before, even in the womb,” Peterson says. “It’s never too early to start thinking about that.”

To prevent future heart conditions in their children, pregnant women should “make sure to eat healthy foods and stay physically active, as long as the doctor has said it’s safe”, Peterson says.
Eating a healthy diet and staying active are two of eight metrics for good cardiovascular health outlined in the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8.
Others include getting enough sleep, not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and keeping cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure levels within a healthy range.
“Anything that makes the mom healthier generally makes the baby healthier,” she says.
Once children are born, experts say following those metrics can help them maintain good cardiovascular health that could last well into adulthood. Here are steps experts suggest parents take.

1. Model healthy eating
Introduce children to good eating habits and a wide range of healthy foods, Peterson says. Research shows dietary patterns established during childhood often continue into adulthood.
As they do for adults, federal guidelines for children and adolescents encourage a diet rich in fruits and green, leafy vegetables, beans, peas, lentils, whole grains, lean meats and seafood. However, according to federal data, children in the US have poor dietary quality, which deteriorates as they grow into their teens.
By late adolescence, kids are only getting half the fruit and vegetables they need and are overconsuming starchy choices such as corn and potatoes. Children of all ages consume excessive amounts of sugar, saturated fats and sodium. And they are putting on too much weight.
About one in five children and adolescents in America are dealing with obesity, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Childhood obesity has been linked to health issues such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, liver disease and mood disorders, Sharifi says. “All of these things go together and are frankly stealing life years.”

Peterson says it is not enough to offer children healthy food choices. Parents need to model good eating patterns.
“Parents ask me how to get their kids to eat vegetables,” she says. “I ask them what they’re eating, and they tell me they don’t like vegetables. Our children are watching what we’re doing.
“If they watch us eat healthy foods and get regular physical activity, it’s easier for them to build the same habits.”
2. Stay physically active
Physical activity is key to good cardiovascular health, but children are not getting enough. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion in the US, only one in five adolescents meets physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.
Federal guidelines recommend children aged six to 17 engage in moderate to vigorously intense physical activity for roughly an hour each day.
This should include mostly aerobic activities as well as some bone and muscle-strengthening activities, such as playground games, lifting weights, using resistance bands, running or jumping rope.

3. Check blood pressure and cholesterol
High cholesterol and high blood pressure can begin to develop early in life. The longer these measures remain high, the more damage they can do to the body.
They need to be monitored during routine health exams.
“You may think that because a child eats a lot of fruits and vegetables and exercises regularly that they won’t have these problems,” Sharifi says. “But it’s still important to check because there’s no other way to know.”
Have their cholesterol tested at least once between the ages of nine and 11 and again between the ages of 17 and 21, according to guidelines published by the American Heart Association. The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends children have their blood pressure screened annually beginning at age three.
“If we ignore it, and a child has high cholesterol or high blood pressure for many years, it damages their arteries more quickly and they can be prone to heart disease,” she says.

4. Recognise social drivers of health
In some families, the problem is far more complicated than making good choices about what to eat and how much to move each day, Sharifi says.
“It’s not all about lifestyle choices,” she says. Genetics and social drivers of health also play a role.
For example, families might not have enough money to make sure children are fed properly, relying on ultra-processed foods that are less expensive and have a longer shelf life.
“This affects the way you eat and the way your body holds on to nutrition and calories for years to come,” Sharifi says.
Not having enough to eat adds to stress and makes it harder for children to sleep, she said. Good sleep – an important component of good heart health – also may be more difficult for children if they live in noisy, urban environments.
The recommended amount of sleep varies by age, with children aged six to 12 needing nine to 12 hours and teens aged 13 to 18 needing eight to 10 hours, according to the AHA.












View this post on Instagram























A post shared by American Heart Association (@american_heart)



5. Have a heart-to-heart talk about CPR
Teaching children about good heart health also means teaching them what to do if they come across someone having a heart emergency, Peterson says.
Sharifi, who recently took a CPR class with her nine-year-old daughter, says “kids are much more competent at a younger age than we give them credit for”.
“We recognise that they might not be able to do chest compressions on adults as effectively when they are young, but they can begin to have the knowledge.”
Each year in the US, about 350,000 people go into cardiac arrest outside a hospital, including 23,000 children, according to the AHA. So parents should learn the skill, too, experts say.
“The more we educate the community,” Sharifi says, “the better.”
Like what you read? Follow SCMP Lifestyle on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter here.


Young people’s risky use of media up to 50 times worse than their use of cannabis, alcohol

Men’s obesity risk triples if they’re married, new research finds, no link found for women

Public sauna reinvented in UK with DJs, poetry. ‘The best’ for mental health, one fan says

How to prevent dementia, and 10 things to ask a doctor to help safeguard your brain health

Wellness

How do you keep your child’s heart healthy? 5 things to keep in mind, from food to fitness

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are two major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and both can begin to develop early in life. Experts explain how to ensure good heart health in children. Photo: Shutterstock


Dr Mona Sharifi, chief of general paediatrics at the Yale School of Medicine, says we need to think about keeping children’s hearts healthy. Photo: X/sharifi_mona

A mother’s health during pregnancy can affect her child’s cardiovascular health as early as adolescence and well into adulthood, experts say. Photo: Shutterstock

Amy Peterson is a professor of paediatrics in the department of paediatric cardiology at the University of Wisconsin. Photo: University of Wisconsin

Our children are watching what we’re doing, Peterson says. “If they watch us eat healthy foods and get regular physical activity, it’s easier for them to build the same habits.” Photo: Shutterstock

Physical activity is key to good cardiovascular health, but kids are not getting enough. Photo: Shutterstock

Good sleep – an important component of good heart health – may be more difficult for children if they live in noisy, urban environments. Photo: Shutterstock

How a plant-based diet can help children thrive – experts share the benefits, best foods and how to get kids to eat them

Take your children grocery shopping and let them help in meal preparation. Photo: Shutterstock

Enlisting children’s help with food preparation is a great way to get them to embrace a plant-based diet, according to a dietitian who, along with other experts, gives advice on raising children vegan. Photo: Shutterstock

Having a diet free of animal products brings health benefits, from better blood sugar control and improved digestion to a reduced risk of potentially deadly diseases, whatever your age, studies show. Photo: Shutterstock

Reshma Shah, a US-based paediatrician, says giving children an array of fruit and vegetables early on will provide them with the nutrients they need to develop healthily. Photo: Reshma Shah

The cover of Shah’s book. Photo: Amazon

US-based dietitian Stephanie McBurnett.

The cover of Nelson’s cookbook. Photo: plantifulkiki.com

Taking your children grocery shopping and letting them help with meal preparation are great ways to help them embrace a plant-based diet, according to McBurnett. Photo: Shutterstock

How to avoid childhood obesity in your family: experts say to make sure your kids eat healthy food, exercise and get enough sleep – and lead by example

Obesity in children is a major public health challenge and it can result in a life plagued by chronic illness. Photo: Shutterstock

Naina Suri is a psychologist at Spot Children’s Interdisciplinary Therapy Centre in Hong Kong.

Grandparents may have a lower inclination to do physical activity, so kids indulge in even more screen time when they are with them. Photo: Shutterstock

Professor Albert Martin Li is a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Chinese University of Hong Kong

Chubby babies are cooed over, but they face health risks if the extra weight persists as they mature into teens and adults. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Jamie Tait is a lecturer at Deakin University. Photo: Deakin University

Research suggests parents can be role models that will positively affect their child’s physical activity habits. Photo: Shutterstock

When you go grocery shopping, let kids help you choose healthy fruit and vegetables. Photo: Shutterstock

Dr Quratulain Zaidi is a Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist. Photo: Quratulain Zaidi

Why ultra-processed foods  – such as breads, cereals and most sausages – are harmful; they can be addictive and are linked to cancer and other ills, doctor says

Sweetened cereals are a common breakfast food that are ultra-processed and potentially harmful. A University College London professor explains why ultra-processed foods are dangerous, and how to spot them. Photo: Shutterstock

A woman shops in a supermarket. Almost three quarters of the US food supply is ultra-processed, according to food database GroceryDB. Photo: Shutterstock

Chris van Tulleken is an infectious diseases doctor at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London and an associate professor at University College London. Photo: TEDxNewcastle

Along with artificial flavourings, additives are used to bind ingredients, to stabilise UPF products, preserve them, colour them, and enhance their taste. Photo: Shutterstock

As UPF doesn’t make us feel full, we will eat more of it, driving excess consumption, according to van Tulleken. Photo: Shutterstock

Sausages with additives are almost always UPF. Photo: Shutterstock

The cover of van Tulleken’s book. Photo: Penguin

Bruce Springsteen, 75, follows the Omad diet, but could you live on one meal a day?

Bruce Springsteen, 75, at an October 2024 rally for Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the US state of Georgia. Springsteen credits his fitness to following the Omad (one meal a day) diet. Photo: Reuters

Bruce Springsteen onstage in Las Vegas, looking very healthy at 75 years old. Photo: Getty Images

Eating “one meal a day is not a good idea”, says Brigham and Women’s Hospital obesity specialist Dr Caroline Apovian. Photo: Boston University

The Omad diet may not be suitable for some people, in which case the Mediterranean diet could be a better option. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Health & Wellness

Health

Lists

From modelling good eating habits to promoting exercise to learning CPR, parents can lay the foundation for a child to have a healthy heart


From modelling good eating habits to promoting exercise to learning CPR, parents can lay the foundation for a child to have a healthy heart.


Parenting: teens

Healthy eating

Parenting: newborns to toddlers