Heart Healthy Family – Are you raising a heart healthy family?

You probably think heart disease is only a problem for “older” individuals. Unfortunately rates of children being diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol are on the rise. This is largely linked to rising rates of childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood obesity has more than tripled since 1980. Obesity in children between the ages of 6 to 11 years has increased from 6.5% to 19.6% and for adolescents between 12 to 19 years the rate has increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.

Also, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease in a sample population of 5 to 17 year-olds.

Here are two steps you can take today:

1. Sit down and eat together.
2. Be a good role model.

All the best,
Lisa Nelson RD
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